Tag: internet.org

Facebook is expanding the mobile Internet

Project aims to bring Internet access to developing countries throughout the world

Facebook is working to expand mobile Internet access in developing countries. the Company has become involved with Internet.org, a project that works to make the Internet more accessible throughout the world. Over the past 12 months, the project has brought Internet access to more than 9 million people across 17 developing countries. These countries have limited Internet access due to the costs associated in running an expansive network. Facebook now intends to expand the mobile Internet through the project.

Facebook is adopting a greater focus on the mobile space

Facebook has a strong focus on the mobile space. The social media company has seen a dramatic rise in smartphone ownership throughout the world and many people are now beginning to use their devices to access the social network. Facebook now plans to offer free basic Internet service to mobile users in the 17 countries Internet.org has had an impact. Providing this service will allow more people to access the social network on their smartphones and other mobile devices.

Providing free Internet access could be a good customer acquisition tool

Mobile Internet - FacebookChris Daniels, vice president of product for Internet.org, notes that the initiative is a customer acquisition tool. The initiative will provide mobile operators with the ability to provide consumers with a small amount of free data in the hopes that these people will be converted to paying subscribers in the near future. According to Facebook, the project has lead to a 50% increase in customer base for mobile network operators.

Expansion of mobile Internet may bring mobile commerce into the forefront

Facebook’s efforts may also lead to the expansion of mobile commerce. As many people are beginning to rely more heavily on using their smartphones to shop, they are using social networks in order to find out more information about products they are interested in. As the mobile Internet continues to expand, consumers are likely to use their access to shop online. Facebook has already begun investing in the mobile commerce space, hoping to provide consumers with the services that can help them shop online.

Apps at Facebook to become more efficient through Onavo acquisition

The company’s data compression could also make the social network more friendly to the wallet experience.

Facebook has just announced another acquisition, this time involving a startup from Tel Aviv called Onavo, which has apps that include services that are designed to compress and monitor mobile data.

This could help Facebook to improve on two very meaningful levels.

As Facebook has been honing its mobile credentials to attract the spotlight, the services from Onavo apps could prove to be very helpful as it could help to encourage more marketers to shed their doubts and give the social network a try.

Equally, these apps could help to enhance Zuckerberg’s efforts with Internet.org.

apps - social mediaThe compression technology might assist the Internet.org program’s attempt to bring internet connectivity into regions that are out of reach for other forms. It could also make Facebook a realistic option within regions of the developing world where data consumption is considered to be a costly luxury. Moreover, it would shrink the roaming charges that would be applied to consumers in the rest of the world.

Beyond having been adopted as a new Facebook subsidiary, Onavo will also be converted into a Facebook satellite office in its home town in Israel, which will become the first time that the social network has had a direct presence in that country. At the moment, no information has been revealed regarding the amount of money that was involved in the acquisition, but there have been speculations ranging anywhere from $100 million to $200 million.

Onavo expressed in a blog post that “We’re excited to join their team, and hope to play a critical role in reaching one of Internet.org’s most significant goals – using data more efficiently, so that more people around the world can connect and share.” They also went on to add that “When the transaction closes, we plan to continue running the Onavo mobile utility apps as a standalone brand. As always, we remain committed to the privacy of people who use our application and that commitment will not change.” It has also been speculated that the tech will be integrated into the Facebook mobile applications in order to make them more efficient in terms of data consumption, as well.