Facebook is testing Facebook Lite that requires less data and will be beneficial for people with weaker Internet service. (Photo : Reuters)
Facebook has launched without much fanfare or public announcement a new app for the Android Smartphones and devices called Facebook Lite, which is a basic version of the current Facebook app for mobile phones, Computer World reported.
The Lite version is primarily designed for users who lived in countries that do not have high speed internet connections or those with earlier versions of Android.
Facebook Lite has already been made available to Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Vietnam, according to Tech Crunch.
In Africa, Smartphone users in South Africa, Nigeria, Sudan and Zimbabwe and other countries in the African continent was able to freely download the app as early as last weekend.
Owners of old Android version phones can download this particular app even with less than 3G network internet speed and its total size is really small - only 252 KB. The Lite version is modeled after Facebook's Snaptu; however, this particular app does include camera integration and push notifications, which are Android's original functions.
The reason why Facebook is interested in pushing a Lite version of its app, particularly for potential users in emerging markets, is because of the increasing sales of Android Smartphones in Africa and Asia. It is said that it is the internet platform of choice for most of these users.
Facebook is currently running an Internet project which offers a number of free mobile services which also includes access to Facebook. The company believes that launching such app will enable it to collect millions of new Facebook users in a very short time.
Based on the amount of downloads and user reviews, the Lite app is already gaining momentum. It has already been downloaded several thousand times and users have generally given it a favorable rating. In fact, some users of the app have been tweeting about how they like the Facebook Lite.
