Facebook's
Internet.org project is taking another step towards its goal of bringing the
internet to people who are not yet online, launching an app in Zambia
The Internet.org app
will give subscribers of Zambia
Facebook has already
been working with mobile operators around the world to offer its own service
free of charge to phone subscribers - think of it as a gateway to the rest of
the internet.
Online services
accessible through the app range from AccuWeather to Wikipedia, a job search
site as well as a breadth of health information. Facebook's own app, along with
its Messenger service, is also included, as is Google search, although charges
apply if people click on search results.
The app works on
Android phones as well as the simple 'feature phones' that are used by the
majority of people in Zambia
If users click on a
link that takes them outside of the 13 predetermined services, they will get a
warning that they may incur data charges.
One thing missing from
the features is email. Many people who are new to the internet in developing
nations don't use email, opting to use messaging apps or social media sites
instead.
'Zambia Zambia
The app will spread to
additional countries down the line.
Internet.org estimates
that about 80 per cent of the world's population that isn't online lives at
least within basic 2G mobile phone range. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said
that making connectivity affordable and convincing people that the internet is
something they need are bigger hurdles to connecting people than 'satellites or
balloons'.
That said, Facebook
has also acquired a satellite company, just to ensure all its bases are
covered.
P.S. If you're like me
and you know I've decided to cash in and put my two cents in it while the
gettin' is good then here's exactly how we can plan to make it work on a tight
budget...
Ø
Utilize Facebook 2 cent clicks to promote marketing products and
services.
Ø
Build an app empire by creating a mobile app business around
underdeveloped markets and specific keywords.
Ø
Create apps with no codes within minutes that cost almost nothing
to create.
Ø
Utilize simple software to create as many apps as possible and
check every morning to see how many downloads I have.
Under the
circumstances, now is the time! I'm not sure how little or how much of a
dent internet access and wifi service fees are putting in your
pocket, but I can think of other things I could do with $720. plus tax
every year. Considering this information puts us ahead of the curve and all I
can hear is cha-ching all the way to the bank!
Original post found
here:
http://www.skynews.com.au/news/tech/2014/08/01/facebook-app-allows-free-internet-access.html
