Facebook users on mobile grow by 45% - report

Proving its popularity as well as the increased proliferation of smartphones worldwide, Facebook has grown its user base accessing the social networking site on mobile devices by 45% from previous year, a report from the Mobile World Live, an online communications hub for the global mobile industry, said.

According to Facebook’s September 2013 disclosures, users who access the site on mobile on a monthly basis stood at 874 million. Facebook reached 1.19 billion users globally, making it one of the largest social networking sites around the world.

In the Philippines, there are over 30 million users according to social media analytics platform Socialbakers.com, making it one of the top 10 countries around the world with the most number of Facebook users.

                With a mission to make the world more open and connected, especially in a country with almost 100% mobile penetration, Facebook recently forged a partnership with leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom to offer the telco’s over 36 million subscribers free access to the social networking site on mobile for an initial period of three (3) months.

                Available to all Globe subscribers using feature phones and smartphones* and accessing either through the mobile site of Facebook or the Facebook app, Globe Free Facebook allows users to post, like, comment, chat, add friends, upload photos, share posts, and more on Facebook without the need for Wi-Fi.

Aside from offering Facebook at zero data charges, the collaboration between the two global companies has also paved the way for subscribers to enjoy first-in-the-world customer experience innovations.

With Globe Free Facebook, subscribers get ease of access via availability of the service in all Facebook mobile platforms. Users can also enjoy proactive advice of charge notifications to avoid billshock or untraced load consumption once they are about to access content outside Facebook.

 For a seamless, worry-free experience, users can also avail of the easy, one-click purchase of data plans without having to leave the site, as well as data access lending for those who don’t have enough prepaid load to access content outside Facebook, where they can ‘loan’ a 10MB data plan for only P10 which will be deducted on their succeeding top-up.

“For over six months, Globe worked tirelessly with Silicon Valley-based Facebook engineers not only to offer a breakthrough service for 36 million Filipinos but to provide the best and most innovative Free Facebook experience to date. This service testifies how Globe is transforming itself beyond just an access carrier. Globe is striving to be a leading digital brand catering to the needs of digital Filipinos who need to be connected to their social circles around the world,” said Peter Bithos, Senior Advisor for Consumer Business at Globe.

To use Free Facebook, subscribers can dial *143# and select FREE FB or text FREEFB to 8888 to download more information or access Free Facebook.Subscribers may also go to m.facebook.com/free on the phone’s web browser or open the Facebook mobile app while on the Globe network to access Free Facebook.