Enjoying Facebook despite poor network connection is now possible with the new Facebook Lite app for Android.
Six months after being in beta version, the mobile app is now available in India and the Philippines. The app is a simpler version of the web or mobile app and is intended for users of low-end Android devices.
According to Vijay Shankar, the app's product manager, Facebook Lite is now available across Asia and will soon be introduced to Africa, Latin America and Europe.
Facebook Lite app has been designed to work well in areas that have poor quality network connections. It is great for those who travel to remote places and still want to access Facebook.
"We want to offer people a choice so if there are limitations, they can still get the full Facebook experience," Shankar said.
The Tech Portal reports that billions of people who go online still use 2G networks. Facebook also said that 114 million of its mobile users come from India, but not all have access to a good internet bandwidth intended for the original Facebook for Android app.
Facebook Lite for Android offers all the features of the web or mobile Facebook app--only it takes lesser storage space and is more data efficient.
The app is only about 430 KB in size but users can still comment, browse the News Feed, post photos, receive notifications, post status updates and enjoy other features that are all too familiar to Facebook users.
The only downside is that the new app does not support advanced location and video services. However, when Shankar was asked about the video limitation, he responded that the version v1 was created based on what users really need from the app, adding that the "team will work on improving the product based on the feedback" that they will receive.
The new Facebook Lite can now be downloaded via Google Play and supports Android 2.2 devices or higher.
