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Facebook Launches 'Lite' Version of Messenger Overseas


 David Marcus, Facebook vice president of Messaging Products, watches a display showing new features of Messenger during the keynote address at the F8 Facebook Developer Conference in San Francisco.
David Marcus, Facebook vice president of Messaging Products, watches a display showing new features of Messenger during the keynote address at the F8 Facebook Developer Conference in San Francisco.

As Facebook continues to eye expansion in emerging markets, the social media giant has launched a light version of its messenger application for Android phones.

The stripped down version of Messenger, which will roll out in Kenya, Tunisia, Sri Lanka and Venezuela, is designed to work better where Internet connections may be slow.

“With Messenger Lite, people are able to quickly and easily send text, photos and links to anyone using Messenger or Messenger Lite,” the company wrote in a blog post. .

The company said more countries would be included in the near future.

“More than 1 billion people around the world use Messenger every month from a range of mobile devices on networks of various speeds and reliability,” “With Messenger Lite, more people can stay in contact, regardless of network conditions or storage limitations on their Android devices. Messenger Lite was built to give people a great Messenger experience, no matter what technology they use or have access to.”

Facebook has basically saturated developed markets and is looking to expand its reach.

The company has been using stripped down versions of its main website. The company has also offers Internet connectivity, called Free Basics, in nearly 40 countries.

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said he wants to connect the entire world to the Internet.

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