Facebook Lite Launches in U.S., India

Sep 11 2009, 10:03am CDT | by Robert Evans

Smartphones are awesome. They give you access to the Internet in the palm of your hand wherever you go. Unfortunately, that Internet access sometimes comes at speeds so slow they make you nostalgic for the days of dial-up. When your 3G connection is acting spotty at best, loading graphics/photo intensive websites like Facebook can be a chore. That's why Facebook has launched a new version, called "Facebook Lite".

Inside Facebook states that the app is currently only available in the U.S. and India. In terms of design, Lite is basically a streamlined 'feed' version of the social networking site we all know and love (or love to hate). There's a newsfeed up top, a stories feed, a note feed, a photo and video section, and an events feed. Personal profiles are kept bare and, unless you specifically look for photos or videos, you'll only deal with a minimal amount of clutter.

The next step for Facebook Lite is to expand their service into more countries. While Lite is very useful for people browsing on their cell phones, it was primarily intended for use by people in poorer nations that are just starting to gain widespread access to the Internet. Considering 70% of Facebook users come from outside the U.S., catering to them seems like a sound move.

What do you think of Facebook Lite? Do you like the increased speed and ease of use enough to give up all of your silly widgets, games, and skins? Or is it just something to turn to when your phone can barely get a signal?

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Robert Evans
The excitement about new smartphones, tablets and anything mobile drive Robert to unearth the latest rumors and developments in this fast moving space. He adopted 4G as soon as it become available and knows where the mobile market is going.
Robert can be contacted directly at robert@i4u.com.