Globe offers free access to Facebook to its 36 million customers

Yesterday, Facebook executives flew all the way to Manila from California to announce their new partnership with Globe Telecom. The new collaboration between the two aims to bring an early holiday gift to the carrier’s more than 36 million customers which is: free usage of Facebook across many devices.

Globe says they worked with the engineers at Facebook to come up with a seamless integration of the free offering on various platforms like their mobile website and apps. For one, customers who use Facebook on Globe’s wireless network will be shown that they are not being charged (see screenshot above and below).

As a way to prevent users from getting their prepaid balance ‘eaten’, Facebook has set up a notification page whenever users click on a link leading to other websites, say Instagram, with a one-click registration to Globe’s data plans. Plans (or promos, if you want) that are displayed will depend on a user’s available prepaid balance, and if you don’t have any, you will be able to borrow or loan 10MB for P10 which will be deducted on your next reload.

 

Globe is actively rolling out free Facebook access to its 36 million prepaid (TM included) and postpaid customers and targets to cover them all by October 31. You can know more about the free Facebook offering by dialing *143# and choosing ‘FREE FB’.

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Is Globe offering free Facebook access?

If the new banners within the Facebook app for Android are of any indication, then we might see free access to the social networking site in the near future.

Earlier, while I was using the Facebook app just how I normally would on my phone, a splash screen asked me if I want to use Facebook without data charges (read: free) on Globe. I accepted it out of curiosity and lo and behold, a banner below the main action buttons on the app (see screenshot above) is now stating that “(I am) using Facebook for free with Globe and TM." I checked my balance and I indeed didn't get charged for the usage.

Moreover, this free Facebook offering from Globe seems to be more integrated with the app than I expected. Clicking on links to other websites outside of Facebook (e.g. Instagram, YouTube, etc) warns me that standard data charges would now apply. In the same screen, there are options to proceed normally (and get charged at P5/15 minutes) or to buy a 10MB data for P10. I tried the latter and I received an SMS that says I now have 10MB of data. It worked.

 

Could this be a new unannounced offering from Globe which just slipped into the app? For the record, I’m using a beta version of the Facebook app from the Google Play Store. It is possible that this is indeed the case. Have you seen this on the app on your phone, too? If you did, sound off in the comments section below.

We’re getting more info from the folks at Facebook and Globe Telecom and will post updates if we hear back from them.

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Facebook for Windows Phone gets major redesign, now more functional and intuitive

Long-time Windows Phone users know how unpleasant using the current version (4.2.1) of the Facebook app. It’s clunky, confusing, slow, and just has too much wasted screen space. Luckily, Microsoft and Facebook has not forgotten to make the app better.

Today, Microsoft announced the newly updated app coming soon which includes a new design now in line with the iOS and Android aps as well as several much-requested features like Timeline support, post sharing, high-resolution photos, and the sliding menus for easy navigation.

  

As for me, I like the new layout and design of the Facebook app. Going in and around it is now a more pleasing experience which actually makes me want to use Facebook on Windows Phone. Previously, I have always resorted to using the mobile web version and not the app. Kudos Microsoft for the job well done!

That being said, the app still bears the beta label and is set to undergo improvements as feedbacks are sent to Microsoft. So if you’re the type of person who like to use pre-release software and help improve the app, head on to this link and get it.

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Facebook Messenger now allows you to make free calls to your friends

If you’re an avid Facebook user with a lot of people on your friends list, then take a quick read at this. Facebook, in the past couple of days (or has it been weeks already?) lifted the geographical restriction on VoIP calls on its Messenger app for Android and iOS. That easily means you can now call your anyone as long as you are ‘friends’ with them on the website and that they have the app installed on their phones or tablets.

 

To start a call with someone, simply tap on their name on the friends list on the Messenger app and hit that little ‘I’ icon on the top-right corner of the screen. If they have the app installed and have an active connection, the ‘Free Call’ button will be shown in white, tap it to initiate the free call. Otherwise, it will be shown in grey.

The advantage of this over other VoIP apps? Everyone’s on Facebook.

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Facebook’s Pages Manager app now out for Android

If you happen to be managing a Facebook page, then we have a good news for you. Facebook recently released the Pages Manager app for Android, which should come really useful for page managers out there.

Facebook Pages Manager allows you to post status updates, share photos, and respond to your users’ posts and comments on the go. It also allows you to read and send messages if you have it enabled on your page.

And what would be an official Facebook without notifications support? Yup, you can check your pages’ new notifications too. Lastly, you can check the insights and analytics for every post you’ve made on your page. The app supports multiple pages management.

You can get the Facebook Pages Manager app from the Google Play Store.

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Smart Offers Free Facebook Access for Mobile Users

Smart Communications announced that it will start offering free access to Facebook Mobile to its subscribers.

Starting today, June 8, users of Facebook on Smart can now have access to the website for free on their mobile phones.

Smart encourages users to download the official Facebook Mobile application by sending FB to 211 and click on the download link. Once installed, they can now access their account for free, as long as you maintain P1 balance. The Facebook Mobile app will work on most feature phones which are used by some 24 million Smart subscribers.

Alternatively, users of high-end phones may also access the mobile Facebook site m.facebook.com as it will give you a richer experience. Subscribing to separate data plans such as Always On is recommended - but optional - as smartphones tend to automatically do background tasks which requires internet connection too, such as syncing and checking for updates.

That's it. Free Facebook access starting today, from Smart. Full press release can be found below.

[07June 2012] Filipinos on Facebook – now over 27 million and the 8th biggest community in terms of nationality – have another reason to love the massively popular social networking site. Aside from keeping one informed, entertained, updated, and connected in so many ways, Facebook has also become the friendliest, most accessible site available to the social networking-crazy Pinoy. More importantly, access to Facebook has become free, thanks to wireless leader and official Facebook mobile partner Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart).

Starting June 8, access to Facebook will be offered free for over 50 million Smart subscribers, and they can get on the social networking site with virtually any kind of cellphone they have in their hands.

“We want to encourage more Filipinos to discover the benefits of being online and on Facebook – whether for information, for entertainment, and for simply keeping abreast with the rest of the world,” said Emmanuel Lorenzana, head of the Wireless Consumer Division of Smart.

To get started, Smart subscribers simply need to text FB to 211, then click on the download link which will be sent via SMS for free. Simply follow the instructions to get the ‘Facebook Mobile App’ always on, ready to use, unli, and for free, with a P1 maintaining balance.

By using the Facebook Mobile App, a big bulk of Smart subscribers – more than 24 million users of basic but MMS-capable handsets – can connect to Facebook right away, all day using any ‘Java’ cellphone – almost 2,500 kinds of it.

Having free and ‘unli’ access through the easy-to-use Facebook Mobile App means always being updated, and being low on load is not even a problem anymore. Users can access Facebook with the phone they are used to and comfortable with. And with Smart’s ‘nationwidest’ coverage, users can check Facebook wherever they please.

Users of mid-range, Internet-enabled phones and smartphones get an even better deal. Using their cellphone’s browser, access to m.facebook.com is also free for all Smart subscribers.

With free and unli access to m.facebook.com, Smart subscribers can continue enjoying Facebook even when they are mobile, right on their cellphone. They can make quick checks on live news feeds, post comments, view profiles and photo albums, update their status, read and send private messages, and find friends, without having to find an Internet café.

The free offer is only for access to Facebook, and regular charges will apply when a user clicks on a link to browse photos, videos, news articles or any other content outside of Facebook. Users must also set the Smart site m.smart.com.ph as their mobile browser’s home page to ensure that no charges will apply upon start of browsing.

Smartphone users availing of the free Facebook offer can also protect themselves against unexpected data charges, by subscribing to affordable, catch-all data plans such as Always On 20, which provides 24 hours of data connection to all background activities like push mail, auto updating of apps, among others.

“The growth of the number of Filipinos getting on Facebook and the sheer amount of information that we share in that space like photos, videos, have been simply phenomenal. And the experience for a user becomes twice as delightful if done via mobile – more timely, more personal – which is how we would like to engage our subscribers to ‘live more’. Smart is in a unique and pivotal position to encourage this – at the same time as we make data connectivity more pervasive in the country, and make connected devices more widely available,” added Lorenzana.

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Here are Some Nice Timeline Covers for Nokia Fans

If you're rocking the new Facebook Timeline now and looking for some nice cover photos, well, search-no-more as Nokia has uploaded a couple cover photos for your use. Just click here to browse the photos available for downloading and go to your profile page to update your timeline cover photo.

Look at mine! Isn't it awesome? :D

More cover photos Nokia please.

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Get Your Free Facebook Business Cards From Moo

Okay, so here's a sweet stuff from Facebook. Have you upgraded your profile to the new Facebook Timeline yet? If not, then click here and follow the instructions there to get Timeline because I will show you how to get your Facebook business cards, for free!

Got timeline now? Okay. Here's how to get those cards. Enter http://facebook.com/yourfacebookusernamehere/info on your browser. If your username is neilrossgoco, then you should enter http://facebook.com/neilrossgoco/info. Now click the little tiny icon on the Contact Info box.

Now you will be taken to Moo to design and submit your order for free. Only the first box with 50 cards is free.

UPDATE: This is completely free, provided that you will choose the standard shipping option. I just ordered mine today and the shipping estimates is on February 14. Quite a long wait but hey, this is free! You can also choose the express shipping via DHL with a tracking for an additional £30 or something.

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