Mobile service provider Orange announced that it is bringing Facebook via Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) to Africa, allowing all Orange customers to access the service regardless of the phone they use.
Even users with older or very basic handsets without an internet connection or data plan will be able to use Facebook via the text-based service.
Users only need to type a specific code into their phone to open Facebook via USSD session and enter a PIN code to access the service securely.
If a customer is using Facebook via USSD for the first time, they will have to register by providing their Facebook login, Facebook password and by creating a PIN code.
Once connected, users’ will be able to search for friends, invite friends, accept or deny friend requests, update status, and comment/like/unlike their friends’ statuses. Pricing options include: per session (10 to 20 minutes), daily, weekly, and monthly.
USSD is a technology used by all GSM mobile devices to send information across a 2G network, and is already used widely in Africa. And since there is no barrier in terms of handset requirements, Orange expects that over one million customers will use the service in the first year.
Orange launched this service for Mobinil customers in Egypt at the end of 2011, and over 350,00 customers connected to Facebook via USSD in the first month. The service launches in Orange Côte d’Ivoire this month.
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