Marco Angelo D'Souza
Social networking site has launched a simplified version called "Facebook Lite" for low-end Android devices used by customers in emerging markets. The app is specifically targeted at budget and entry-level Android phones while there is no word for its iOS version as yet.
At 252 KB in size and the app can be used by those on 2G internet connections. It utilizes a fraction of the phone’s resources compared to the regular Facebook app. It doesn’t look as visually polished, but it runs much quicker and uses lesser data.
The app is based on Snaptu, Facebook`s feature phone client.
The app has been launched in some countries in Asia and Africa, where it is being testing with a view to further expanding its features, the report added.
Nearly 10,000 people have downloaded the app so far, with a 4.6 rating from an initial 693 reviewers.
It includes some native Android features such as push notifications and camera integration to make the experience a more sophisticated one.
Here's what we think about the app:
- Facebook Lite is a toned-down Facebook app, built to run smoothly even on entry-level Android phones.
- The regular Facebook app for Android or iOS has always been a bulky app, heavy on your phone’s memory and data resources.
- It has been created especially for use over 2G networks and in areas with limited network connectivity.
- With it you can message friends and have group conversations, receive notifications on post likes and comments, access friends’ posts, share updates and upload photos.
- As of writing this, it isn’t directly available for installation on phones in the Indian region. You can, however, sideload the APK file (ie, download the installer and install it to the phone manually).
