Intuit Inc.’s Mint.com has rolled out an Android tablet application after seeing a greater need from consumers to manage their money on mobile devices.

The tablet app is optimized to fit Android devices that run on the Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich operating systems and helps users track their finances with graphs and charts. The app is available for free download from Google’s Android Market.

“We wanted to create a tablet app to fit every lifestyle to provide the flexibility to stay in control of day-to-day finances and live financially confident,” said Ken Sun, product manager for mobile at Intuit Personal Finance Group, Mountain View, CA.

“Tablet apps offer a landscape aspect and more real estate, which creates more opportunity for exploration and immersive experiences,” he said.

Personal finance Web site Mint.com helps eight million users manage their finances.

Mobile money
The Mint.com app has been designed specifically for the Android tablet and is optimized for nine and ten inch screen Android tablets.

To use the app, consumers need to create an account at https://www.mint.com/ or via the app. Users then enter their banking information.

The Mint.com app syncs a user’s information across the company’s Web site, smartphone and tablet apps.

After a user enters their information, the app breaks down financial information into categories including cash, credit cards, loans and investments.

Users can also set up budgets by categories and manually enter transactions into the app.

“The initial design and key learnings for the Android tablet came from developing the iPad app,” Mr. Sun said.

“When we decided to create the Android tablet app, our engineers were able to make changes and tweak the design to accommodate the unique functionality and features of the Android tablet,” he said.

Cross-platform product
Mint.com’s Android tablet app is proof that managing money has become a cross-platform activity.

Similar to online banking, consumers trust their mobile devices to help them manage their money.

Additionally, tablets are being used more by financial companies because of the size and image quality of the devices.

Developing for Android tablets is a growing trend as more devices become available on the market, and with devices including the Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble Nook, it will be an area to watch in 2012.

In addition to Mint.com’s Android tablet app, the company also has apps for Android smartphones, iPhone and iPad devices.

“Mobile is big for Mint.com and is something the company will be focusing on for a long time to come,” Mr. Sun said.

“Providing busy people with specific money management features, reliable advice, tips and educational resources, we are able to make sure everyone has the tools to be financially literate to use their money for living,” he said.

Final Take
Lauren Johnson is editorial assistant on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York