Facebook launches a simplified version of the app to grab the low-end Android Market

Facebook has recently launched a stand-alone "lightweight" app, Facebook Lite, which is designed for low-end Android devices in emerging markets, according to the TechCrunch Web site. Design style similar to the old version of the Facebook mobile site in the 2009-2010 period.

According to TechCrunch, Facebook Lite apps were quietly launched over the weekend in several countries in Asia and Africa, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. It is not yet certain whether Facebook will spread the app in a wide range.

This application is for low-end Android devices, only 252KB, can be quickly installed, support 2G or poor quality Internet connection. The app is built on Facebook's mobile client snaptu, but it also includes some native Android features such as informational notifications and camera capabilities.

Why did Facebook launch the app? The smart-phone market in emerging countries has great potential. In India, for example, smartphone sales soared and India became the fastest-growing market for smartphone sales in the Asia-Pacific region in the fourth quarter of 2014. In Africa and south-East Asia, the growth potential of the mobile market cannot be underestimated. Last year, Facebook has redesigned its Android apps for emerging markets.

In addition, Facebook has set up a global Internet organization, Internet.org, which is committed to spreading the internet to all parts of the world and offering free mobile internet services to the less developed parts of the Internet, including Facebook. At present, the company is also working with operators and other telecommunications industry service providers to establish partnerships.

Facebook Lite has performed well since the launch. Up to now, the download of this application has broken through 10,000 times, in the initial 693 evaluations, received a 4.6 star rating.