26/09/2015
FACEBOOK GIVES INTERNET.ORG A MAKEOVER
Internet.org India
Facebook said Internet.org has 60 new services are available across the 19 countries where its free basic services are available.
Credit: Internet.org
Effort to boost worldwide connectivity gets encryption and a new name
By Sharon Gaudin Follow
Computerworld | Sep 25, 2015 12:59 PM PT
Facebook is giving its worldwide Internet connection project, Internet.org, a makeover that includes more security and granular control, along with a new name.
On Thursday, Internet.org's name became Free Basics by Facebook. The name change is consistent across the app and the mobile website.
"We're making this change to better distinguish the Internet.org initiative from the programs and services we're providing, including Free Basics," the company said in a blog post. "Anyone currently using the app will be able to continue using the Android app, though it will now be called Free Basics by Facebook in Google Play."
A little more than two years ago, Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that he was starting a global initiative to bring Internet connectivity to the two-thirds of the world's population, or about 5 billion people, that doesn't have access.
Facebook said today more than 1 billion people across Asia, Africa and Latin America have online access through Facebook's Internet.org effort.
In May, Facebook announced the Internet.org platform that was designed to make it easier for developers to adapt their services for the effort's requirements.
"Today, more than 60 new services are available across the 19 countries where free basic services are available," the company wrote. "Not only does this expand the range of resources available to people, it gives them more choice and control over the services they can use in the app and web site."
The effort has not been without controversy as some digital rights groups have complained that the Internet.org platform provides only limited access to the Internet and violates the principles of net neutrality.
