• Nigerian/African Tech
  • Start Up
  • Internet
    • App
    • Mobile
    • Software
  • Gadgets
  • Money
  • Video
Tech News, Magazine & Review WordPress Theme 2017
  • Home
  • Africa
  • Business
  • Video
  • Metaverse
  • AI
  • Gadgets
  • Earnings
  • Tips
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
  • Home
  • Africa
  • Business
  • Video
  • Metaverse
  • AI
  • Gadgets
  • Earnings
  • Tips
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
TechBooky
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Home General App

Internet.Org’s App With Free Access To Facebook, Google, Wikipedia, Local Info Launches In Zambia

Femi by Femi
July 31, 2014
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

85% of the 5 billion people without Internet simply can’t afford data plans. So Facebook’s accessibility initiative Internet.org today launches its Android and web app for the developing world with free data access to a limited set of services including Facebook, Messenger, Wikipedia, and Google Search. It also provides local health, employment, weather, and women’s rights resources.

Internet.org’s app is launching in Zambia before coming to other developing countries eventually, and is a partnership with local carrier Airtel who provides the free access in hopes that Zambians see the web’s value and buy pre-paid data through the app to explore the rest of the Internet. The Facebook Zero has been giving the developing world access to a stripped down version of Facebook since 2010. But this new Internet.org app with other services will be available as a compact, standalone Android app, baked into the Facebook for Android app, or freely available as a mobile website that the feature phones carried by the vast majority of Zambians can access.

Also On TechBooky

Airtel Launches Its eSIM Technology In Nigeria

Here’s How ChatGPT Can Help Improve Your SEO

Here Are Key Differences Between Google Search And ChatGPT

How Machine Learning Can Be Used To Fight Government Corruption

Kenyan Fintech Startup, Kwara Raises $3 Million Seed Extension

Weather

Internet.org, Facebook’s partnership with six telecom companies, is also working on drones and satellites to deliver Internet connection infrastructure to the 15% of people who are unconnected because they’re in remote areas with no cellular towers in range. The initiative to get more people on the Internet is sometimes criticized as a Facebook growth tactic masquerading as altruism. In this, Internet.org’s app will in fact grow Facebook by making usage free in Zambia.

But Internet.org product manager Guy Rosen defends the project’s benevolent side by reiterating Mark Zuckerberg’s white papers, telling me that Internet access can have a profound positive impact on the carrier opportunities and education for people in the developing world. “We’re here to build a program that covers more than Facebook so we can accelerate the pace at which people are connecting to the Internet which is 9% a year” says Rosen. “We really want to make that happen faster.”

Feature Phones

A Slice Of internet For Free, The Rest At A Price

Find JobInternet.org’s app is designed to provide critical services to all Zambians for free, while also spreading awareness of why the Internet is useful and might be worth paying for. The 4.25 billion people who aren’t on the Internet but could be because traditional cellular connections are available fall into two buckets, says Rosen. Those who want the Internet but can’t afford it because data plans are too expensive. And those who don’t fully understand the web. Rosen tells me “a lot of people don’t know what the Internet is. They don’t know what it could do for their lives and livelihood. It’s a vague concept.”

Of course this perspective assumes the Internet is equivocally good for people, which may not be true for all cultures. But the app is designed for people who would want the Internet if they about it and could afford it.

To promote the Internet.org app in Zambia there will be call-outs in the Facebook app, an awareness campaign, and notifications to Airtel subscribers. The country’s residents can then visit Internet.org from their smartphone or browser-equipped feature phone for an entirely free entry point. Alternatively, they can pay for a little data to download the Internet.org app that’s just 800 kilobytes, or the Facebook For Android app where the Internet.org app is baked into a tab.

Internet Dot Org AppFrom these three identical entry points, users can use one of a selection of apps entirely for free. These include:

  • Facebook – for staying in touch with friends
  • Facebook Messenger – for direct contact with loved ones
  • Google Search – to find information, though clicking through to results will require a data plan
  • Wikipedia – to learn about anything, and all internal Wikipedia links are free to access
  • AccuWeather – to get updated weather information that’s critical for farmers
  • Airtel – to learn more about the carrier and buy data plans
  • eZeLibrary – to learn about Zambian government information
  • Facts for Life (by UNICEF) – to find heath and hygiene info including advice on pregnancy, childbirth, childhood illnesses, child development, parenting, protection, and child care
  • Go Zambia Jobs – to search for jobs
  • Kokoliko – search for jobs
    MAMA (Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action) – Info on maternal health for impoverished mothers
  • WRAPP (Women’s Rights App) – learn about women’s rights and what to do if rights have been violated
  • Zambia uReport (by UNICEF) – To find HIV and AIDS health info

If Google’s inclusion seems a little odd considering it has its own Internet accessibility initiative Project Loon, know that Facebook tells me content providers in the  app don’t need to be official Internet.org partners.

An On-Ramp To Paid Data Plans

Airtel pays for all this free access. Rosen tells me Facebook and Internet.org don’t pay at all. Instead, the free access acts as an on-ramp to Airtel’s data plans.

Data ChargesIf users click through to links outside of these services or use other apps, Internet.org will show users a roadblock screen that warns them they’ll be expending their data plan or need to buy one. Zambians would then go to a local store and top-up with pre-paid credit on Airtel if necessary. The model works because Airtel believes it can earn more money using the free limited access as a loss leader to drive data plan purchases. This works out well for locals, because those who can’t afford these plans get a ton resources at no cost because they’re effectively subsidized by those who can.

Facebook has been offering free access to a stripped down version of its service under the name Facebook Zero since 2010 when it launched with 50 operators in countries around the world. The program has been hailed for driving Facebook penetration in Africa.

In the last six months, though, Internet.org own deals have come to fruition. On last week’s earnings call, Zuckerberg said that “our initial partnerships in the Philippines, Paraguay, and Tanzania have helped around 3 million people connect to the Internet who had no access before.” And back in February at Mobile World Congress, he highlighted how the deals are delivering customers to its carrier partners. Discussing a Filipino Network Globe when he said “what we’re seeing in Globe users is the number of people who are using the internet — the data — was doubled, and Globe subscribers have grown by 25%, so it’s a home run.”

Zuckerberg wrote today that “We believe that every person should have access to free basic internet services – tools for health, education, jobs and basic communication.” That’s powerful stance that could do a lot of good. Still, it is a little scary that Facebook and Internet.org could decide what qualifies as a basic Internet service that should be offered free and what doesn’t. You’ll notice Twitter isn’t on the list. Facebook’s worldwide appeal makes it a valuable ally to carriers who need flagship services to point to for why people should want the Internet. So it gets to call the shots.

If the app is a success in Zambia, you can expect Internet.org will roll it out in other carriers and countries in Africa, Asia, and South America where the same data affordability problem persists. And if Facebook can be one of the first ways people experience the Internet, they won’t forget it as they become full-fledged Internet users. Seems altruism can be a business model.

source: Josh Constine/TechCrunch

Related Posts:

  • Twitter And Facebook-related Services Are Reportedly Blocked In Zambia During Its Presidential Election.
    Twitter And Facebook-related Services Are Reportedly Blocked…
  • Facebook Set To Open Its Second African Office In Lagos, Nigeria
    Facebook Set To Open Its Second African Office In Lagos,…
  • Is Nigeria And The Continent Of Africa Ready For The Metaverse?
    Is Nigeria And The Continent Of Africa Ready For The…
  • Meta Discontinues Low Cost Express Wi-Fi, With Sub-Saharan Countries Worse Hit
    Meta Discontinues Low Cost Express Wi-Fi, With Sub-Saharan…
  • A ‘Declaration For The Future Of The Internet’: US, EU, 32 Other Countries Announce Synergized Agreement
    A ‘Declaration For The Future Of The Internet’: US, EU, 32…
  • How Unlimited Internet Is Changing Work Worldwide
    How Unlimited Internet Is Changing Work Worldwide
  • Opera Launches Hype, An In-browser Chat Service In Nigeria
    Opera Launches Hype, An In-browser Chat Service In Nigeria
  • Here Are 5 Interesting Facts About Voice Search That You May Not Know
    Here Are 5 Interesting Facts About Voice Search That You May…
Femi

Femi

Paul Balo is a wireless communications technologist with interests in VoIP and 5G technologies. He leads the writing team at TechBooky

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

Receive top tech news directly in your inbox

Loading

Recent

Tesla Cybertruck Mass Production Won’t Start Until 2024

Tesla Cybertruck Mass Production Won’t Start Until 2024

January 27, 2023
Apple Reportedly Delays Development Of Its Own WiFi Chips

Apple Reportedly Delays Development Of Its Own WiFi Chips

January 27, 2023
Google Commits To Complying With EU Laws On Its Services

Google Commits To Complying With EU Laws On Its Services

January 27, 2023
Airtel Launches Its eSIM Technology In Nigeria

Airtel Launches Its eSIM Technology In Nigeria

January 27, 2023
In Spite Of The Sucess Of Genetically Modified Foods, Debates Abound

In Spite Of The Sucess Of Genetically Modified Foods, Debates Abound

January 27, 2023
How And How Not Gaming Can Be Used In Solving Real Problems

How And How Not Gaming Can Be Used In Solving Real Problems

January 27, 2023
Tesla Sues Former Employee For Allegedly Stealing Trade Secrets

Tesla Made The Most Money In 2022, But Its Future Still Rocky

January 26, 2023
Shutterstock Introduces Its Generative AI Image Tool

Shutterstock Introduces Its Generative AI Image Tool

January 26, 2023
Meta Agrees To $725M Settlement Of Cambridge Analytica Lawsuit

Meta Set To Reinstate Trump’s Facebook And Instagram Accounts

January 26, 2023
Here’s How ChatGPT Can Help Improve Your SEO

Here’s How ChatGPT Can Help Improve Your SEO

January 25, 2023

Browse Archives

January 2023
MTWTFSS
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031 
« Dec    

About Us

TechBooky

TechBooky is a social Tech blog with a special focus on the budding African Technology sector. TechBooky is currently based in Abuja, Nigeria.

Subscribe to TechBooky

Enter your email address to subscribe to TechBooky and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 24 other subscribers.

Receive top tech news directly in your inbox

Loading

Popular Tags

AI (252) amazon (95) android (281) app (610) Apple (473) artificial intelligence (265) business (338) china (113) cloud (135) cryptocurrency (158) ecommerce (109) enterprise (239) facebook (472) gadget (448) gaming (160) google (545) government (381) guest post (108) instagram (137) internet (352) ios (249) iphone (210) microsoft (261) mobile (281) new feature (287) nigeria (276) privacy (135) research (134) samsung (139) security (374) smartphone (235) social media (671) software (415) startup (268) streaming (140) telecom (157) tips (340) transport (104) twitter (216) united states (191) users (132) videos (115) website (159) whatsapp (129) youtube (106)

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Africa
  • Business
  • Video
  • Metaverse
  • AI
  • Gadgets
  • Earnings
  • Tips

Popular Post

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Download Free Editable Resume Templates – Word / Docx – 2022

Download Free Editable Resume Templates – Word / Docx – 2022

July 25, 2022
The Best Free PC Games

The Best Free PC Games

July 29, 2022
Recover Permanently Deleted Emails From iCloud Manually

Recover Permanently Deleted Emails From iCloud Manually

March 5, 2022
Resume and Cover letter Templates for free

Resume and Cover letter Templates for free

July 25, 2022
How is Technology Changing Our Definition of What It Means to Be a Human?

How is Technology Changing Our Definition of What It Means to Be a Human?

April 1, 2018
[Fixed] “Outlook Running Slow Windows 10” Issue

[Fixed] “Outlook Running Slow Windows 10” Issue

February 12, 2020
Tesla Cybertruck Mass Production Won’t Start Until 2024

Tesla Cybertruck Mass Production Won’t Start Until 2024

January 27, 2023
Apple Reportedly Delays Development Of Its Own WiFi Chips

Apple Reportedly Delays Development Of Its Own WiFi Chips

January 27, 2023
Google Commits To Complying With EU Laws On Its Services

Google Commits To Complying With EU Laws On Its Services

January 27, 2023
Airtel Launches Its eSIM Technology In Nigeria

Airtel Launches Its eSIM Technology In Nigeria

January 27, 2023
In Spite Of The Sucess Of Genetically Modified Foods, Debates Abound

In Spite Of The Sucess Of Genetically Modified Foods, Debates Abound

January 27, 2023
How And How Not Gaming Can Be Used In Solving Real Problems

How And How Not Gaming Can Be Used In Solving Real Problems

January 27, 2023

Recent News

Tesla Cybertruck Mass Production Won’t Start Until 2024

Tesla Cybertruck Mass Production Won’t Start Until 2024

January 27, 2023
Apple Reportedly Delays Development Of Its Own WiFi Chips

Apple Reportedly Delays Development Of Its Own WiFi Chips

January 27, 2023
Google Commits To Complying With EU Laws On Its Services

Google Commits To Complying With EU Laws On Its Services

January 27, 2023
Airtel Launches Its eSIM Technology In Nigeria

Airtel Launches Its eSIM Technology In Nigeria

January 27, 2023
In Spite Of The Sucess Of Genetically Modified Foods, Debates Abound

In Spite Of The Sucess Of Genetically Modified Foods, Debates Abound

January 27, 2023
How And How Not Gaming Can Be Used In Solving Real Problems

How And How Not Gaming Can Be Used In Solving Real Problems

January 27, 2023
  • About TechBooky
  • Submit Article
  • Advertise Here
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Login

© 2021 Design By Tech Booky Elite

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
  • Home
  • Africa
  • Business
  • Video
  • Metaverse
  • AI
  • Gadgets
  • Earnings
  • Tips

© 2021 Design By Tech Booky Elite