Developers invited by Facebook and Qualcomm at the Internet.org workshop in Bangalore worked to test and profile apps for power and efficiency in a hands-on setting, TechOnline India reported. The move aimed to ensure the apps are optimised on affordable devices for network conditions in emerging regions.

Internet.org wants to make internet access available to the two-thirds of the world that is not yet connected. It is a partnership of non-profit organisations, local communities, experts, and technology leaders that include Samsung, Facebook, Ericsson, Qualcomm, Mediatek, Nokia, and Opera among others.

The group's goals also include making Internet access more affordable, building more efficient technologies, and helping businesses to drive access.

To make this closer to reality, the Internet.org app was introduced. The app allows people to browse a set of useful health, employment, and local information services for free. It is initially available to Airtel subscribers in Zambia. Soon, it will be released to other parts of the world.

Airtel customers who use the app have basic access to AccuWeather, Airtel, eZeLibrary, Facebook, Facts for Life, Google Search, Go Zambia Jobs, Kokoliko, MAMA (Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action), Messenger, Wikipedia, WRAPP (Women's Rights App), Zambia uReport.

According to TechOnline India, India can benefit a lot from the Internet.org app as more than half of its population (about 856 million out of 1.24 billion people) living in rural areas are not connected to the Internet.

During the workshop, Facebook and Qualcomm emphasised to developers the importance of power and efficiency in apps to meet the needs of consumers in emerging regions like India. The hands-on session with developers allowed them to test their application performance on Qualcomm Reference Designs, Mobile Development Platforms, and commercial devices.

Telecom operators in India are currently in talks with Internet.org partners to help provide this service as free to some communities in the country.

By: DocMemory
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