Facebook has released scant details about a new stripped down version of Facebook for mobile devices to save precious carrier bandwidth. The site is being dubbed as Facebook Zero, and can be accessed at zero.facebook.com.
A visit to Facebook Zero from a mobile handset, flashes a message that your carrier does not support the service as yet. In essence the site is a lite weight version of m.facebook.com that only offers text. Techcrunch was able to grab an image of the presentation by Chamath Palihapitiya (posted above).
Facebook is offering the app to free up bandwidth on the carrier networks. This would be done by omitting data intensive features like photos and videos. A Facebook spokesperson commented on the app by saying:
“We are discussing it… as an option to make Facebook on the mobile web available to everyone, anywhere and allow operators to encourage more mobile internet usage”.
Carriers could offer Facebook Zero as a free service to its subscribers and decide to charge them if they wish to access the more richer multi-media version. This would be similar to a Freemium model on offer by web based services, whereby a stripped down version of a service is offered for free and the users wishing to get more are asked to switch over to the paid version.
The launch of a freemium Facebook Zero would entice mobile carriers to offer the app (pre-installed) to their subscribers thereby making the Facebook Zero a ubiquitous app on mobile devices.
Facebook is already taking its mobile users seriously and has recently passed the 100 million user mark, that access the social network from mobile devices.
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This is great news for mobile Facebook users! I have been using Facebook on my Nokia e63 which has a reasonably big screen but still the interface is a bit cumbersome. With 100 million users this app should be a hit! The only thing I'd change is the name. I mean, who calls their products 'zero'? Ok, there's Coke Zero, but still…
Kris Olin, MSc (econ.)
Author of the Facebook Advertising Guide
Comment by Kris Olin — February 16, 2010 @ 8:06 pm
I am not sure how this will help reduce bandwidth usage. Facebook already has m.facebook.com and touch.facebook.com for mobile users, yet most seem to like using the full desktop web site.
Comment by Gordon — February 17, 2010 @ 5:08 am
I would like to be able to access the game applications by use of a mobile. I always get a message saying the application is too large for your device. If there's a way to do this already, I don't know about it.
Comment by Nicole — February 18, 2010 @ 3:13 pm
This will be a wonderful asset to those of us who are blind and/or visually impaired. The full version with all the graphics is a nightmare for those of us trying to use a screen reader. Bravo, Facebook, for listening to the needs of *all* users!
Comment by Lynn Williams — February 19, 2010 @ 9:26 am
Of course this is gonna work!! it's gonna provide ease to mobile users with low bandwidth connections. and well, i love the name "FACEBOOK ZERO". and as Cocke Zero is with less calories, facebook Zero is with less weight,
so this is the reason behind naming it so. (I GUESS) 
Comment by Shoaeb — March 18, 2010 @ 9:31 am
zero – no need to charge
Comment by Sagaraptor Wat — June 7, 2010 @ 7:33 pm