Reliance Communications and Facebook announced on Tuesday that the two are bringing free access to several websites for Reliance's mobile users via Internet.org. During the event, Gurdeep Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Business, Reliance Communications said the goal is to deliver "zero bandwidth content" and the speeds are dependent on the user's phone as well as the kind of connection they have (2G or 3G). From Reliance's end, networks in the launch circles have been strengthened and Internet.org ensures that the destination site is as light on bandwidth as possible.
At the event marking its announcement we got to check out how the service works and it left as feeling there's a lot to be desired. Here's everything you need to know about Internet.org in India.
Who is this for?
To use Internet.org you have to have to be a Reliance Communications customer in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Chennai, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, or Kerala. While all Reliance customers in these circles can use it, the target audience is people without data plans - over 70 percent of mobile phone users in India, according to Singh. The idea is that this population can either not afford Internet access or don't realise what Internet can do for them, and hence don't have a data connection. Internet.org can address both these concerns.
The company plans to roll out Internet.org to Reliance Communications users across the country in the next 90 days.
"It acts as a great lever at the point of sale, it is far more consumer friendly, network friendly, and it's a win-win for all," Singh said. Our time using Internet.org wasn't very consumer friendly, but the free access should still bring a lot of people on-board - to at least try out the Internet for the first time.
How does it work?
Internet.org gives Reliance Communications customers free access to 40 sites, which includes Wikipedia and WikiHow, various news sites, some e-commerce sites, and of course, Facebook and Facebook Messenger. To access these sites for free, Reliance users need to log onto Internet.org from their phones using either Opera Mini or UC Browser for Internet.org. While these browsers come preloaded on many low-end smartphones, the kind Facebook and Reliance are targeting with Internet.org, you have to wonder how those with the stock Android browser are supposed to use the service. Reliance users can also call 1800-300-25353 (toll-free) and be greeted by a voice menu that will send the URL of the service they wish to use to their phone via SMS.
Leaving free access
You are taken to a page that explicitly asks you if you want to continue browsing, warning you that you will incur charges on the data plan the phone is under currently. And if it is not on a data plan, you can purchases several packs listed on the page itself. Interestingly, while Twitter is not a partner with Internet.org, we saw a 15 day Facebook pack for Rs. 15, and a 1 day data pack for Rs. 9 which included 1GB of 2G data, and unlimited access to Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
I'm a Reliance Communications customer and I use Facebook and/or other sites via Internet.org regularly, how do I know what I'm not being charged?
Unless you're using the Internet.org app, access via browser is free only if you see a small message at the top of the screen labelled as "Free Data". However, the full-fledged Facebook app, is not free, and neither is the full Messenger app, with its support for stickers and calls. The whittled down, spartan experience via Internet.org is what you'll get for free.
First impressions
On checking it out on a demo smartphone, we were greeted by an interface that would be right at home in an era prior to phones being smart. Internet.org sports a flat, unremarkable design with few colours and sparse amounts of text.
It harkened back to the time of WAP websites, an era when responsive design was just a dream. For what is positioned as the gateway for over a billion potential new internet users, it felt surprisingly barebones, and not exactly the best looking means of trying to get first-time Internet users online. Nonetheless, it was functional and did more than enough to let users know what to expect from the host of sites are available for the magic price of free.
