Facebook for SIM

Facebook for SIM, also called LinqUs Facebook for SIM, is a client/server SIM application developed by international digital security company Gemalto that enabled people to access Facebook using the SMS protocol on their mobile phones, without needing a data plan.[1][2] Facebook cooperated closely with Gemalto in the development of the product.[3] Carriers that were partnering with Gemalto to offer this service included Entel in Chile, Tigo in Colombia, and Telecom Personal in Argentina.[1]

History

[edit]

Gemalto first announced Facebook for SIM at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.[3][4][5]

The service launched in October 2011, with the carrier Telecom Personal in Argentina being the first carrier to adopt it.[2]

In September 2013, Gemalto updated Facebook for SIM to include Facebook Messenger.[6][7]

Since then, the service has been decommissioned.[8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Facebook for SIM: Bringing Facebook to any mobile". Gemalto. Archived from the original on January 28, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Tofel, Kevin (October 6, 2011). "Facebook for SIM uses SMS; no data plan required". GigaOm. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Cohen, Jackie (February 14, 2011). "First Facebook SIM Card Released". AllFacebook. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  4. ^ Protalinski, Emil (February 14, 2011). "Gemalto creates SIM card that brings Facebook to feature phones". ZDNet. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  5. ^ Chansanchal, Athima (February 15, 2011). "Facebook takes over the world, one SIM card at a time". NBC News. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  6. ^ Cohen, David (September 12, 2013). "Facebook Messenger Added To Gemalto Facebook For SIM For Feature Phones". AllFacebook. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  7. ^ "Gemalto's LinqUs Facebook for SIM now supports Facebook Messenger". InformationWeek. September 18, 2013. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  8. ^ "Obsolete Products". Gemalto. Archived from the original on April 22, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.