Facebook Lite, an Android app aimed at users of low-end mobile devices in developing countries, is available on Google Play.
The tiny 252-262KB download is also a better fit for users of older phones or those on a slower 2G network.
The quick-loading, low-fi Facebook app is based on Snaptu, an app that Facebook acquired in 2011, according to TechCrunch's Jon Russell. It was rolled out on January 20 to little fanfare here.
Reviews have been generally positive, earning 4.6 out 5 stars on Google Play's download site.
Many have cited extended battery life and savings on mobile data, although a few reviewers have complained about problems using the app when the phone is on wi-fi mode instead of mobile data.
For now, Facebook Lite is only available in Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe, but users of low-end devices elsewhere are sure to be clamoring for a more efficient option in the near future.
The app is expected to help Facebook make inroads in places other than developed markets such as the U.S., where usage has leveled off.
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