Twitter is planning to start its service on phones that will not require Internet access at all.
The micro-blogging website is partnering with a Singapore-based start-up called U2opia Mobile and will offer its users the ability to send 140 character-long tweets using an entry-level mobile handset. Moreover, no Internet access will be required. U2opia Mobile is expected to launch the latest Twitter service sometime in Q1 2014.
U2opia Mobile already has a similar partnership with Facebook and the service has been live since October this year in select regions. U2opia Mobile uses a telecom protocol called Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) to offer its service without the need of Internet. Facebook for USSD acquired around 100,000 users within just 10 days of the launch of the service. U2opia Mobile previously indicated that 8 out of 10 users in emerging markets such as African nations do not have access to the Internet on their phones and, therefore, getting connected using Facebook for USSD is important in these regions.
The service is mainly aimed at emerging markets where Internet access on mobile devices is a rarity or limited.
"At a time when the largest Internet companies are trying to address the issue of reaching users sitting outside the ambit of mobile data connectivity, the instant success of Facebook for USSD in markets like Nigeria proves that there is massive demand here, waiting to be tapped with the right innovative technology. The solutions that work need to be simple, inexpensive and made-for-mobile," said Sumesh Menon, CEO and co-founder of U2opia Mobile.
Twitter is used by millions of users every day and with the launch of its USSD facility, the company can reach many more users who do not have, or have limited access, to the Internet.
Twitter for USSD will only allow text usage and one will not be able to access video, images or media using the U2opia's service.
U2opia is present in around 30 countries and in 7 international languages, and will localize the Twitter feed based on the location of the user.
