Orange has announced that it will make Facebook accessible via USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) technology across its footprint in Africa this year. USSD allows all Orange customers to access the service, even if they have older or very basic GSM handsets without an internet connection or data plan. The simple and affordable text-based service was launched at the end of 2011 for Mobinil customers in Egypt and over 350,000 customers connected to Facebook via USSD in the first month. Orange Cote d'Ivoire will introduce it this month and other Orange affiliates in Africa will add it throughout the year. Customers will have the choice between four types of pricing: per session (10 to 20 minutes), daily, weekly and monthly. Exact bundles and tariffs will be confirmed by each country as the service comes to market. This is the latest in a series of services designed to open up access to digital services in emerging markets such Google SMS chat and e-mail via SMS, and the exclusive Alcatel One Touch range of phones with deep Facebook integration.
