The company decided to roll out the app after seeing that advisors are using mobile technology to access information while on the go. The Android app joins Charles Schwab’s growing mobile portfolio.

“This app is intended for the independent investment advisors who work with Schwab Advisor Services and want access to data and information about their clients through their Android devices,” said Lindsay Tiles, a spokeswoman at Charles Schwab. 

“We’ve already launched similar capabilities for the iPhone and the iPad,” she said.

Bank on mobile
Advisors with an Android device that uses OS 2.2 or higher can use the new app to search for client accounts by name or number.

Advisors can also view single account balances, positions and history, as well as look up Schwab service team members and phone numbers.

The Android app is a smart move for the company. Consumers are constantly turning to their smartphones and tablets to browse financial information.

Therefore, having a mobile presence is key.

Moreover, it is important that marketers have a presence on as many platforms as possible to reach a broader audience.

“Since this app is for a very specific audience, we are letting advisors know about it through our traditional marketing channels,” Ms. Tiles said.

“We also issued a press release and mentioned the new app on our social media channels for advisors, including the @Schwab4RIAs Twitter handle,” she said.

Mobile repertoire
In 2011, Charles Schwab let clients execute trades, check balances and transfer funds via an iPad application.

The iPad app lets users keep up with market information by automatically updating quotes and the latest financial news through the app (see story).

Last year, the company rolled out a mobile application for its advisory services that lets users track their accounts via their devices (see story).

Most recently, Charles Schwab extended its suite of mobile capabilities for advisors with an iPad application that lets clients access data such as balances, positions and transactions (see story).

“Mobile is an increasingly important part of the experience that Schwab provides both to investors and to independent investment advisors,” Ms. Tiles said.

“Consumers are all becoming much more accustomed to a world where information is available anytime, anywhere, and financial information is no exception,” she said.

Final Take
Rimma Kats is associate editor on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York