Internet.org App Provides Free Access to Facebook, Wikipedia, and More
Internet.org’s goal is to bring the internet to the two thirds of the world’s population that don’t yet have it. The recently presented Internet.org app certainly lives up to that goal. The app provides free and easy access to a set of health, employment and local information services.
“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,” said Internet.org.
Airtel customers in Zambia, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, will get the Internet.org app first. Through the app, they will be able to access several online services for free.
The Internet.org app will provide free access to:
“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,” said Internet.org.
Additional info on Internet.org is available here.
UPDATE, October 29, 2014: the Internet.org app launched in Tanzania. Starting with the 29th of October, 2014, the app is available to Tigo subscribers in Tanzania.
UPDATE, November 10, 2014: at AfricaCom in Cape Town, Facebook’s Vice President of Internet.org Chris Daniels announced that the app will be available to Airtel subscribers in Kenya later this week.
“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,” said Internet.org.
Airtel customers in Zambia, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, will get the Internet.org app first. Through the app, they will be able to access several online services for free.
The Internet.org app will provide free access to:
- AccuWeather – weather forecasting services.
- Airtel – telecommunications services.
- eZeLibrary – Zambian national laws.
- Facebook – social networking service.
- Facts for Life – basic, clearly expressed advice about child health.
- Google Search – search for anything you want on Google.
- Go Zambia Jobs – a place where employers and job seekers can connect in Zambia.
- Kokoliko – job portal website that connects employers and job seekers.
- MAMA (Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action) – vital health information for new and expectant mothers
- Messenger – Facebook’s messenger application (the one Facebook is forcing you to get).
- Wikipedia – free encyclopedia.
- WRAPP (Women’s Rights App) – inform Zambians of women's rights.
- Zambia uReport – free info on HIV, AIDS, and sexually transmitted infections (STI).
“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,” said Internet.org.
Additional info on Internet.org is available here.
UPDATE, October 29, 2014: the Internet.org app launched in Tanzania. Starting with the 29th of October, 2014, the app is available to Tigo subscribers in Tanzania.
UPDATE, November 10, 2014: at AfricaCom in Cape Town, Facebook’s Vice President of Internet.org Chris Daniels announced that the app will be available to Airtel subscribers in Kenya later this week.
