John Hancock Financial Launches Company iPad App in iTunes Store

BOSTON, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock has expanded the reach of its products and created another way for customers, advisers and benefit managers to interact with the Company by launching the John Hancock iPad application, available to the public free of charge in the iTunes store.

The app provides easy access to financial needs solutions, information about the Company's products, videos, and frequently used forms, tools and calculators.

The app's view is customizable based on whether the user is an individual, financial advisor or benefit manager. It provides offline access to all content and is automatically updated with an Internet connection.

"With this app, John Hancock is providing an easy way to make relevant company information available to the user," said Allan Hackney, senior vice president and chief information officer. "No matter if the user is an individual who is interested in finding out about John Hancock's offerings or wanting to apply for a product, or is an adviser on the road and wants quick access to materials to share with a client, this app provides it in an extremely intuitive manner."

Last year, though the company already had several business unit-specific apps in development, Hackney conceived of and sponsored an employee competition to spur further app ideas. The John Hancock iPad app was the first place winner out of 175 submissions. "I was thrilled with the engagement of our associates and the great ideas they suggested," said Hackney.

"We wanted to create a platform for any user with a financial services need - one that was simple and that would display relevant content," said Shawn Smith who, with Mark Brady, developed the John Hancock iPad app. "But, for me, it was John Hancock's willingness to use our ideas - by holding the competition, they were telling us that they want us to contribute to the Company," he said.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation
John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 21 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and in most of Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, Manulife Financial Corporation offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were $481 billion (US$498 billion) as at June 30, 2011. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers a broad range of financial products and services, including life insurance, fixed and variable annuities, fixed products, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at www.johnhancock.com.

SOURCE John Hancock Financial Services