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Facebook announces free or discounted messaging services, SMART Communications sole PH telco in program

facebook chat messaging smart communications free

OK everything’s happening so fast so I decided to just post it in full here. I got this from Nick of SMART not via a press release but, well, via Facebook. Touche? Note: Globe and SUN Cellular are not part of this promo. The details are not final as SMART is still in the finishing touches with Facebook. If you don’t believe me, Engadget has their version up.

This promotion will be available from more than 18 operators in 14 countries. Operators committed to special pricing for Facebook messaging include TMN in Portugal, Three in Ireland, Airtel and Reliance in India, Vivacom in Bulgaria, Backcell in Azerbaydzhan, Indosat, Smartfren, AXIS and XL Axiata in Indonesia, SMART in Philippines, DiGi in Malaysia, DTAC in Thailand, Viva in Bahrain, STC in Saudi Arabia, Oi in Brazil, Etisalat in Egypt, and Tre in Italy.

[Barcelona, Spain/ February 25, 2013] – Today at Mobile World Congress 2013, Facebook is announcing partnerships with a select group of mobile operators around the world that will offer free or discounted access to Facebook messaging for their subscribers.
In the Philippines, SMART is the exclusive operator partner for this program.

Facebook is currently the most popular social network in the Philippines.

“We’re excited with this partnership as it’s in line with our goal of making access to messaging and other mobile Internet services accessible to more Filipinos. We’re sure that this is something that our subscribers are looking forward to.” said Orlando B. Vea, Chief Wireless Advisor of SMART Communications.

In the coming months, free or discounted access will be available on Messenger for Android, Messenger for iOS, and Facebook for Java which is now optimized for chat. This promotion will be available from more than 18 operators in 14 countries, including SMART in the Philippines. This free promo gives users the access management they need for keeping themselves online with their mobile phones.

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.

By Jayvee Fernandez

Jayvee Fernandez is a tech enthusiast and sitting Techbology Editor for The Philippine STAR.

He is also an EAN certified SCUBA Diver and underwater photographer based in Metro Manila, Philippines. His photos and videos have appeared in various international and local publications including Random House Germany, Discovery Channel Canada, and CNN.

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