The social network giant today announced partnerships with mobile operators aimed at providing users with free or discounted data access for its Messenger for iOS, Messenger for Android, and Facebook for Every Phone mobile applications. Currently, they are teaming up with 18 different mobile operators in 14 countries.
Facebook recently updated its feature phone application to be optimized for chat and added a number of new features to Messenger, including voice messaging and the ability to create a Messenger account without a Facebook profile.
Deals were announced with:
- TMN (Portugal)
- Three (Ireland)
- Airtel (India)
- Reliance (India)
- Vivacom (Bulgaria)
- Backcell (Azerbaydzhan)
- Indosat (Indonesia)
- Smartfren (Indonesia)
- AXIS (Indonesia)
- XL Axiata (Indonesia)
- SMART (Philippines)
- DiGi (Malaysia)
- DTAC (Thailand)
- Viva (Bahrain)
- STC (Saudi Arabia)
- Oi (Brazil)
- Etisalat (Egypt)
- Tre (Italy)
Facebook added in its note:
Messaging on Facebook lets people connect with friends and contacts on the go, regardless of what device they are using. Three out of every four people on Facebook send a message on the platform each month, making messaging one of the most popular activities on Facebook. Today, Facebook messaging and chat can be accessed from more than 6,000 mobile phones via Facebook Messenger, Facebook for iOS and Android, Facebook for Every Phone, m.facebook.com and across other devices with Facebook integration.
Facebook has used this strategy before, working with carriers in the past to provide free access to 0.facebook.com or Facebook for Every Phone. In India, recently, they brought a new promotional technique, which gives 50 Rupees in calling credits to users who sign up for Facebook on their mobile devices. Users also get an additional 50 Rupees for every user they refer who signs up to Facebook with a mobile device.
Facebook says messaging is one of the most popular activities on the social network, with three out of every four people on Facebook send a message on the platform each month.