The most popular social network Facebook has come up with the free mobile services in several Indian states. The firm has partnered with Reliance Communications to render basic internet services on mobiles for free. This way,Indiabecomes the first Asian country to receive the free Facebook’s Internet.org service.
Initially, the application is available in seven among the 22 regions or zones, and it is slated to be launched across the country in the next 90 days, claimed Gurudeep Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Reliance Consumer Business.
The free Facebook internet service is run by Internet.org that is a non-profit organization. It is supported by other firms including Samsung, Nokia, Ericsson, Opera Software and Qualcomm that are also aiming to rollout basic Internet services to the yet to be connected two-thirds of the global population.
The application is aimed specifically at the low income and rural regions. They will provide free access to web services such as agricultural details, job listings, education and healthcare websites through mobile phone. Interestingly, these services will be made available in seven regional languages. Also, there will be access to Facebook’s social network and messaging services as well.
As Reliance Communications is a partner in rolling out this free Internet service, the 106.3 million subscribers of the teleco will also receive these services, provided they have internet capable handsets. As of now, there is no information on who will take up the cost of carrying the data traffic.
Notably, the mobile phone sales are booming in the country and it has become the second largest mobile market across the world. The sales of smartphones have surged by 90 percent in the last quarter of 2014. But, less than 20 percent of the population in the country remains without access to the Internet.
Facebook has claimed that it is working along with Reliance Communications since October 2014 to resolve the barriers in getting people connected. It is said that both Facebook and Reliance will be benefited from the venture on a long term basis. AsIndiais currently the third largest Internet market, it can occupy the number two position in 2015.
Facebook has partnered with over 150 wireless service providers for over four years to render free or cheap access to its social network. But, Internet.org app is the first time that the social networking firm is adding services to other websites.
