Facebook offers free messaging on Airtel, Reliance

Social network Facebook, in partnership with Indian telecoms, Bharati Airtel and Reliance Communication, will provide discounted and free access to its messenger app.

"Messaging on Facebook lets people connect with friends and contacts on the go, regardless of what device they are using," said Facebook in a blog post yesterday. "Three out of every four people on Facebook send a message on the platform each month, making messaging one of the most popular activities on Facebook."

The company headed by Mark Zuckerberg also announced striking a new deal with 18 telecom operators across 14 countries to offer free or discounted data access to Facebook messaging to their subscribers.

The company's 'Facebook for Every Phone' phone app had been optimised for chat now. The message app could be accessed via Facebook Messenger, Facebook for iOS and Android, Facebook for Every Phone and m.facebook.com.

"...Facebook messaging and chat can be accessed from more than 6,000 mobile phones via Facebook Messenger, Facebook for iOS and Android, Facebook for Every Phone, m.facebook.com and across other devices with Facebook integration," read the post.

Airtel had announced free access to Facebook for its prepaid subscribers till 15 February with up to 500 MB data usage, while earlier in December, Reliance also announced a free messenger plan that allowed prepaid customers to have unlimited usage of Facebook Messenger for a period of 16 per months.