Facebook too heavy? Lite-n it up

By: JP Smith | Published: September 10, 2009

Categories: Internet, Business

Despite how I complain about how the broadband access in the U.S. can be much better, there are parts of the world where broadband penetration ranges from poor to nonexistent.  So, for those that still access the internet with low-bandwith connections, Facebook still wants you on their service. 

In both the United States and India, Facebook Lite has launched.  From the current feedback being received, it's a hit. However, what Facebook is finding, it's not just the low-bandwith users that are impressed, there are lot of users who appreciate a less-cluttered Facebook experience.

The first thing that Facebook users will notice is that there is no left hand Applications menu.  For a lot of people, this was not a necessity.  If you want to keep up with friends and share a few photos, a lot of bells, whistles and games may not be that big a deal. 

Another thing you'll notice is that it feels much faster.  That is because it seems that Facebook has added certain HTML optimizations that have reduced the page sizes.  Also, at least for now, a lot of the ads are gone.  But, don't count on that being a permanent feature.

Facebook has just opened up a new world for users and may be attracting even those folks who were put off by the overwhelming Facebook interface.

Facebook Lite may still in beta but, it looks like they have already struck gold.