JOHANNESBURG, SA and PALO ALTO, Calif. USA: The MTN Group today announced that it is launching Facebook ZERO, a mobile website that will allow its customers free mobile browsing on the new site: http://0.facebook.com.
The service will enable users to stay connected through Facebook with their friends and family from any mobile Web browser without incurring any data charges.
Facebook Zero is optimized for speed – it is a new faster, lightweight version of the Facebook mobile site m.facebook.com. The site does not have graphics or photos, and facebook zero’s pages have been designed for performance on MTN’s network.
Photos posted on Facebook are only one click away from facebook zero. Standard data charges will apply when a person leaves 0.facebook.com to view photos.
Says MTN Group’s Chief Marketing Officer, Ms Santie Botha: “In the true spirit of innovation and bringing our customers convenience - including the latest in technology at affordable rates - MTN has collaborated with Facebook on this venture to ensure our customers are among the first to benefit from this social service and communication offering for free.
“We recognise that many of our customers across our footprint in Africa and the Middle East are on Facebook and use it to keep in touch and share special moments with family and friends. As an emerging markets player, we also understand our subscribers’ challenges in terms of costs and ease of access to the Internet.
MTN Play is an interactive mobile access channel that enables MTN’s over 123 million customers across its vast global footprint of 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East to enjoy digital content, which will include near live match highlights during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
“As we count down to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, for which MTN is a global sponsor, we believe this latest offering perfectly augments other MTN products and services such as MTN Play. Together these will go a long way in making our customers’ experience of the football spectacular most memorable,” says Botha.
“We are always looking to work with innovative companies to provide simple and fast mobile access to Facebook across the world,” said Henri Moissinac, Head of Mobile Business, Facebook. “Thanks to our collaboration with MTN, people will now be able to access Facebook for free through http://0.facebook.com.”
About Facebook
Founded in February 2004, Facebook's mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. Anyone can sign up for Facebook and interact with the people they know in a trusted environment. Facebook is a privately held company and is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif.