We know that you’ve heard about Facebook. How could you not have? As far as Facebook execs are concerned, this is both a blessing and a curse. In one sense, it speaks to the incredible success that the Facebook platform has enjoyed for the last handful of years. But it also presents a problem: in developed markets like the US, almost everyone who has an interest in joining Facebook has already taken the plunge and signed up for the social media service. In order to continue to expand, Facebook believes that some of their advertising and outreach efforts are best applied in developing markets. Specifically, Facebook wants to be more of a presence on non-smartphone cell phones.
Facebook’s New App
Facebook is in the process of unrolling a new app that is meant for use on so-called “feature phones.” These types of phones are very popular in the developing world and may cost as little as 20 dollars to purchase. Essentially, feature phones have some of the capabilities of smart phones, but not all of them. Facebook is now looking to guarantee that its brand comes through clearly on this type of technology. Facebook is funded by ad revenue, so another facet of their focus on feature phones is to make sure that users still see advertisements while browsing on the service. Facebook’s new programming efforts are known as Facebook for Every Phone. Based on this name, you probably have a pretty good idea of what the program hopes to achieve. Whether or not Facebook conquers the world is a hot debate, so it’ll be interesting to see if these new efforts pay off or if they’re scoffed at.