Internet.org, the initiative by Facebook for a better Internet – with more traffic to Facebook, naturally – has announced the launch of its own application.
Initially available only in the African nation of Zambia, the app gives people free access to a set of basic Internet services, including health, employment and location information services.
According to the press release by Internet.org:
“Over 85% of the world’s population lives in areas with existing cellular coverage, yet only about 30% of the total population accesses the internet. Affordability and awareness are significant barriers to internet adoption for many and today we are introducing the Internet.org app to make the internet accessible to more people by providing a set of free basic services. With this app, people can browse a set of useful health, employment and local information services without data charges. By providing free basic services via the app, we hope to bring more people online and help them discover valuable services they might not have otherwise.”
Through the Internet.org app, Airtel customers in Zambia will have basic access to: AccuWeather, Airtel, eZeLibrary, Facebook, Facts for Life, Google Search, Go Zambia Jobs, Kokoliko, MAMA (Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action), Messenger, Wikipedia, WRAPP (Women’s Rights App), Zambia uReport.
For the full press release from Internet.org, click here.
