Google launches its Google Free Zone pilot program in Philippines

Google launches its Google Free Zone pilot program in PhilippinesOn Thursday, Internet search giant Google launched its new Google Free Zone pilot program in Manila, the Philippines, to enable the users of even the most basic of Internet-capable handsets to gain access to some of the smartphone-like functions.

The Google-powered Free Zone program - which currently is unique to the Philippines; and has been launched in partnership with wireless carrier Globe Telecom - is essentially aimed at making it possible for phone users in developing countries to access the mobile Internet advantage with the help of Google's ad-supported online properties.

As a result of the launch of Free Zone service in the Philippines, Globe Telecom customers who have Internet-enabled phones will henceforth have the ability of `free' accessibility to Google Search, GMail, and Google+ services, even though they may not be subscribers to a mobile data plan.

In addition, phone users in the Philippines will also not have to pay any extra charges for viewing third-party websites which show up in the Google search results. However, in case they click on any other links, they will be redirected to a screen that asks them to purchase mobile data from Globe.

Revealing that Google intends releasing the Free Zone service in other countries soon, AbdelKarim Mardini - product manager at Google - said that the program is "aimed at the next billion users of the Internet, many of whom will be in emerging markets and encounter the Internet first on a mobile phone, without ever owning a PC."