MOBIPRESS

Facebook is all set to attain a new face lift in India. The popular social networking site’s mobile extension is now going to be completely free for Bharti Airtel users. Well, Airtel has just announced that it will offer the full mobile site of Facebook to users across the world. The company elucidates its plans to endow users with ‘the power to share and make the world more open and connected’. With the latest offer, more than 130 million Airtel users can now socialize on the move.

The offer will last for about two months, allowing users to access the complete Facebook mobile site without any data cost via m.facebook.com. Airtel users can now upload and view photos, message friends, post status and updates, and also comment and write on walls via the Facebook mobile site. In addition, the site will initially operate in English and Hindi. Support for other languages including Punjabi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam is also anticipated to roll out by July 15, 2010.

“We are pleased to bring an industry-leading offer to our 130 million plus customers by announcing this long-term partnership with Facebook – the popular social media service. Our mobile customers will also be the first in the world to enjoy Facebook on their Airtel mobile in five vernacular languages. All of this reiterates our commitment to customers to offer the best value-for-money services that enable their lifestyles.” He added, “As India’s leading telco, Bharti Airtel has always stood for technological innovation and personalized customer experience, and this is one of many innovations coming from us,” explained Shireesh Joshi, Chief Marketing Officer- Mobile Services, Bharti Airtel.

Over hundred million Facebook users all over the globe can now easily access the site through their handsets. The extremely popular site allows millions of people worldwide to stay connected with their friends and family members. The site is said to be an apt socializing platform for the new generation. With the augmentation of the mobile connectivity in India, the masses can easily access the site from their phones.

Existing Airtel mobile internet consumers can directly start accessing the Facebook mobile site. Users who will be accessing mobile internet for the first time can simply message ‘Facebook’ to 54321. Facebook Mobile is free on the Airtel network for July and August, 2010.

Facebook Today introduced new mobile site that includes all of the key features of Facebook optimized for mobile devices. The service is now available in 50 mobile operators in 45 countries including India. In India, the 0.facebook.com is available on Reliance mobile and Videocon mobile networks with zero data charges. This means users need not to pay for accessing Facebook from Reliance and Videocon mobile networks.

According to Mary Meeker of Morgan Stanley, mobile Internet and social services are the most growing areas of the technology industry. Facebook is one of the most popular social networking site with more than 100 million people actively using Facebook from their mobile device and with more than 200 mobile operators in 80 countries offering Facebook Mobile service.

Browsing Facebook through mobile phones is costly in some areas like India and users have to pay more for data uses for accessing Facebook site, as well due to insufficient GPRS speed, the site takes too long to load and to overcome from this, Facebook developers comes with 0.facebook.com.

0.facebook.com includes all the key features of standard Facebook mobile site, m.facebook.com with just one little difference, Images. Users view any photos on Facebook if he wants but for this operation, regular data fees will apply. Other features like update status, view News Feed, like or comment on posts, send and reply to messages, or write on friends’ Wall remains the same as a standard Facebook User interface.

In India user can experience 0.facebook.com on Reliance and Videocon mobile networks for free of cost. People will only pay for data charges when they view photos or when they leave 0.facebook.com to browse other mobile sites, notification page will appear to confirm that user will be charged if he want to leave 0.facebook.com.

Facebook wants to bank on the Symbian S60 community, too, hence they’ve released a Facebook application in the Ovi Store. The app is designed as a runtime widget and it works on S60 touch-enabled (S60 5th edition) device, only. This means that owners of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and Nokia N97 are the only one who will be able to take their Facebook with them, wherever they happen to be.
As we’re talking about a runtime widget, you’ll need an Internet connection all the time. Hence it’s best to use some affordable or unlimited data plan, or to do your “Facebook think” while in a hotspot.

From the app, you can do pretty much everything basic Facebook (without Facebook apps) allows you to do — including update your status, see what your friends are up to, upload photos, check messages, comment on everything, RSVP to event invites, and confirm or deny friend requests…

In a nutshell – since it’s free, it’s a must have app, even for those who don’t consider themselves savvy/regular Facebook users.