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Facebook Offers ‘Lite’ Alternative

Posted on: Sunday, 13 September 2009, 12:15 CDT

The largest social networking site Facebook has now introduced a new version for those with slower internet connections.

The new Facebook Lite will be simpler with fewer services than the main site, which will allow it to run much faster.

It is currently only being offered in India and the U.S. and will initially be intended for users in developing nations where they face bandwidth limitations that cause the main site to run too slowly.

Around 70% of over 250 million Facebook users live outside America, said the company. And countries in Southeast Asia and Europe are having an incredible social networking growth spurt where faster internet connections are found.

The news that Facebook Lite was on its way was first leaked in August, according to BBC News.

Facebook Lite offers limited options. There will be no apps or special boxes, but users will still be able to write on their wall, post photos and videos, view events and browse other profiles.

"It appears, at a quick glance, to be a better site for Facebook newbies or for anyone who finds the current site overwhelming and noisy," said Rafe Needleman at technology website Cnet.

He compared the new version to a hot micro-blogging social networking site saying, "The new layout feels almost Twitter-like."

The stream-lined version got approval from Terence O’Brien from Switched.com because he says it "strips away distractions."

He told BBC News, "The simple site loads noticeably faster, is easier to navigate, and is much easier on the eyes thanks to the lack of people sending you 'virtual booze' or asking you to join their 'vampire fraternity.'"

"The new layout seems like a direct challenge to Twitter, which can attribute much of its success to is simplicity and portability," O’Brien added.

Many industry watchers have said that they believe that even users with perfectly adequate internet connections might be very attracted to Facebook Lite because of its novel appearance and simplicity.

"That is what some US users are planning to do," Eric Eldon of InsideFacebook.com told BBC.
 
"Indeed the reaction from US users has prompted Facebook to release it intentionally for US users, something it hadn't previously planned on doing."

According to Eldon, a "worldwide rollout doesn't seem too far away."

Facebook made a statement on the site confirming that this may be a possibility in the near future, and they say that they are currently "working on translating Lite into other languages."

Comments being posted on the site seem to suggest that people like the new Facebook Lite idea so far, and customers are responding well to knowing their opinions are being weighed by the company.

"It's good to see Facebook listening to their users," wrote one user.

Another commented, "Facebook Lite should be great for college campuses like mine that are hung up on bandwidth."
 
Users also seem to be supportive of losing the third-party apps that clutter and slow down the site.

"The no-apps thing is killer. There's nothing about them I'll miss," noted one user, while another said: "Whatever you do, please, PLEASE do not allow the quizzes, games, or apps to ruin this pristine version of Facebook."

If anyone tries the Lite version only to decide they prefer the full site, they are able to switch back at any time.

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On the Net:

• Facebook Lite

Source: RedOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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