Now, access Facebook on mobile without internet
Singapore-based software applications developer U2opia Mobile has developed a new application for mobile phones that will allow them to access Facebook on all kind of handsets without paying for a data connection
"We are using USSD technology, which will enable users to
access Facebook without having a GPRS connection on their phones," said
Sumesh Menon, the co-founder and CEO of U2Opia Mobile.
Unstructured Supplementary Data (USSD) is the technology
used by telecom players to send alerts to their users that inform them
about their balance at the end of call or for sending miss call alerts.
Menon mentioned that though the technology will not provide
access to graphics, it will help users send and view updates on their
friends' Facebook walls.
"It is like sms and hence, the load on the network is
negligible. We have built some commands through which a user can receive
alerts on activity happening on his wall as well post an update," said
Menon.
U2opia launched this application today with Indian telecom major Bharti Airtel.
While Airtel customers can update their Facebook status
through this USSD service free of cost, Rs 1 per day will be applicable
for accessing the full-feature application, which enables viewing news
feeds, commenting on or liking news feed stories, posting on friends'
walls, confirming friend requests, viewing notifications and finding as
well as adding friends.
Airtel users can dial *325# and *fbk# for non-qwerty mobile handsets to access Facebook without subscribing to data plans, the statement said.