21st Century Wire says…
Ever heard of Internet.org ?
According to their website, “Internet.org is a Facebook-led initiative bringing together technology leaders, nonprofits and local communities to connect the two thirds of the world that doesn’t have internet access.”
Internet.org describes itself as a partnership between social networking services company Facebook and six other mega telecom giants including Samsung, Ericsson, MediaTek, Opera Software, Nokia and Qualcomm. Their plan is “to bring affordable access to selected Internet services to less developed countries by increasing efficiency.”
Internet.org is offering free apps on the front end, but is then selling mobile data packages on the back end.
HIS ROYAL HOODIE: Zuckerberg insists that it’s all for the greater good.
On top of this, the service seeming to designed to favor only companies and services who sign on to Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg’s new portal.
Zuckerberg claims that Internet.org and net neutrality can co-exist and that his portal will never differentiate between services.
Gatekeeper or Philanthropist?
Facebook mogul Mark Zuckerberg claims that his new platform is only there to help drive down the price of internet access with mobile providers in the developing world, but critics believe that Zuckerberg, along with a handful of other pre-selected service providers, are trying establish a narrow funnel into the internet that contains only their websites.
Some major websites in India are already pulling out of Internet.org on the grounds that Zuckerberg’s latest project is designed to kill net neutrality in their country – the notion that all Internet traffic must be treated as equal by Internet service providers – and not just those who are included in Zuckerberg’s new platform.
Trouble in Asia
The Times of India explains, citing an example of one company who also defected, saying, “Earlier today, online travel search firm Cleartrip pulled out of Internet.org as well. The company said it realized that Internet.org has the potential to influence customer decision-making by forcing options on them. “We were neither paid anything, nor did we pay anything to participate. Additionally we don’t make any money out of that product,” said Cleartrip in a statement.”
One thing is certain, Zuckerberg will have a tough road ahead, as poorer countries continue to adopt unique region-specific markets, and sophisticated networks of content and social media.
One thing is certain though: like Google, Facebook is bent on complete world domination within its market sphere (and beyond) and would like to have a monopoly if they can help it.
Watch this space.
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