Google Free Zone is an initiative undertaken by Internet company Google in collaboration with mobile phone-based Internet providers, whereby the providers waive data (bandwidth) charges (also known as zero-rate) for accessing select Google products (Google Search, GMail, and Google+).[1]
History
editGoogle Free Zone was announced by Google on November 8, 2012, with a launch in the Philippines in partnership with Globe Telecom, with the experimental round scheduled to run till March 31, 2013.[2][3][4]
In June 2013, Google launched Google Free Zone in India in partnership with mobile Internet provider AirTel.[5][6][7][8] In December 2013, AirTel extended Google Free Zone to its services in Nigeria.[9]
Reception and impact
editA number of Internet commentators viewed Google Free Zone as both inspired by and a potential competitor to Facebook Zero.[10][11][12][13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Free Zone powered by Google". Google. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ "Google and Globe Launched Free Zone in the Philippines". Filsupport. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ Lloyd, Craig (November 8, 2012). "Google launches Free Zone, aims to bring Google services to feature phones". SlashGear. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ Wagstaff, Jeremy (November 8, 2012). "Free Zone, Google For The Developing World, Launched For 'Next Billion Users' Of Internet". Huffington Post. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "With Airtel and Google's Free Zone, access Web pages free". ciol. June 26, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ Rana, Gogi (June 27, 2013). "How to use Airtel Free Zone and access Google services for free". Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ Matuloko, Muyiwa (December 20, 2013). "Google Offers Airtel Customers Free Internet". Tech Cabal. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "airtel free zone". AirTel. June 26, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ {cite web|url=http://africa.airtel.com/wps/wcm/connect/africarevamp/nigeria/Home/personal/Internet/Services/freezone/%7Ctitle = airtel Free Zone|date = December 17, 2013|accessdate = January 15, 2014]}
- ^ "Google Free Zone". Google Operating System blog (not affiliated with Google). October 25, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ Knowles, Jamillah (November 8, 2012). "The Phillipines gets Facebook Zero-style free mobile access to Google services via Globe Telecom". Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ Jana (December 3, 2012). zero/ "Google Free Zone: Google's Challenge to Facebook Zero". Retrieved January 15, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ Deibert, April (February 19, 2013). "Google 'Free Zone' and Facebook 'Zero': Products Targeting Developing Populations". Innovation Series. Retrieved January 15, 2014.