Twitter users in the Philippines recently discovered Twitter Lite, an Android app that consumes less data than other versions. The Philippines has a less than optimal network infrastructure that makes using traditional Twitter time consuming, expensive and frustrating. Combine that with users’ reliance on less powerful phones and you can see why tech writers and marketers consider Twitter Lite a success. Of course its users like it too, with some exclaiming their joy on Twitter.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey explained that Twitter Lite is the result of months of “foundational work” and can be expected to be part of the company’s plan to make their product accessible to users regardless of their international location. He specifically mentioned India as a region with high network costs. An app that uses less data is more accessible to those living and working in India.
So how light is Twitter Lite? TechCrunch reports that the Android Lite app “uses under 3MB” once it is installed. Twitter also offers a Lite web app that uses 70 percent less data and has a faster launch than traditional Twitter and is only 1MB.
As for the user experience, Lite means faster but, it also means fewer options. The first feature Twitter reconsidered was media. Twitter Lite users have the option to turn off media. The media-free mode means that users can choose the media and images they want to view. This cuts down on lost speed and makes for a lite app. The app still has basic functions like breaking news and information, a timeline, an explore tab, messages and the ability to customize your profile.
Twitter is quick to say that this is an experiment. However it does indicate that as mature users and old markets have reached a saturation point, the company must be flexible and cater to the demands of international users and the restraints that their geography might contain. Apps are suitable for this experiment, and as a way going forward, because they are easy to manipulate. It could be possible that Twitter could develop various versions for different regions and countries, all driven by the region’s user base and the area’s network infrastructure.
For now, users in the Philippines can find the app in the Google Play Store. If your device runs on Android 5.0 or more, then you can download it, even if your network is only 2G or 3G
