Facebook to test Facebook Lite in Zimbabwe

According to a report by TechCrunch, Facebook has been testing a new version of Facebook dubbed "Facebook Lite." The app is essentially a simplified version of its mobile website, which has been specifically designed for low-end Android devices in emerging markets.

According to the report, the app was quietly launched in a handful of countries in Asia and Africa, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. A wider launch is not a certainty and Facebook could quietly end the project if it does not believe it is worth pursuing.

The app was built to accommodate low-end and dated Android devices, and users who are on 2G/poor quality internet connections. It's based on Snaptu, Facebook's feature phone client, but includes some native Android features, such as push notifications and camera integration, to make the experience a more sophisticated one.

According to thenextweb, the company hasn't officially announced Facebook Lite, which explains why the free app has only reached between 10,000 and 50,000 installs since January 20 when it launched on Google Play.