Google Free Zone Explained

Google Free Zone was a global initiative undertaken by the Internet company Google in collaboration with mobile phone-based Internet providers, whereby the providers waive data (bandwidth) charges (also known as zero-rate) for accessing select Google products such as Google Search, Gmail, and Google+.^[1] In order to use this service, users were required to have a Google account and a phone that had access to an internet connection.^[2]

History

• November 2012: Google Free Zone was announced by Google on November 8, 2012, with a launch in the Philippines in partnership with Globe Telecom, with the experimental round scheduled to run until March 31, 2013.^{[3] [4] [5]} Telkom Mobile in South Africa, then branded as 8ta, offered Google Free Zone 3 from 13 November 2012 but discontinued the service on 31 May 2013.^[6]
• April 2013: launch in Sri Lanka on the Dialog mobile network.^[7]
• June 2013: Google launched Google Free Zone in India in partnership with mobile Internet provider Airtel,^{[8] [9] [10] [11]} and in Thailand on the AIS network.
• December 2013: Airtel extended Google Free Zone to its services in Nigeria.^[12]
• March 2014: Safaricom in Kenya had launched 60 day promotional Free Zone.^{[13] [14]}

Reception and impact

A number of Internet commentators viewed Google Free Zone as both inspired by and a potential competitor to Facebook Zero.^{[15] [16] [17] [18]}

The Subsecretaria de Telecomunicaciones of Chile ruled that Zero-rating services like Wikipedia Zero, Facebook Zero, and Google Free Zone, that subsidize mobile data usage, violate net neutrality laws and that the practice had to end by June 1, 2014.^{[19] [20]}

See also

• Alliance for Affordable Internet
• Facebook Zero
• Internet.org
• Project Loon
• Wikipedia Zero
• Zero-rating Zero Rating / Toll Free Data / Toll Free Apps

Notes and References

1. Web site: Free Zone powered by Google . January 15, 2014 . May 2, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140502232259/http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/mobile/landing/freezone/.
2. Web site: GOOGLE FREE ZONE FAQs - globe.com.ph. wap.globe.com.ph. en-US. 2017-03-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20170301182432/http://wap.globe.com.ph/freezone-faqs. 2017-03-01. dead.
3. Web site: Google and Globe Launched Free Zone in the Philippines . January 15, 2014 . Filsupport.
4. News: Google launches Free Zone, aims to bring Google services to feature phones . November 8, 2012 . January 15, 2014 . Lloyd . Craig . SlashGear.
5. News: Free Zone, Google For The Developing World, Launched For 'Next Billion Users' Of Internet . . Wagstaff . Jeremy . November 8, 2012 . January 15, 2014.
6. Web site: Free Zone powered by Google is no more. mybroadband. 15 November 2014.
7. Web site: Dialog and Google team up to launch Free Zone . 15 November 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129024443/http://www.dialog.lk/news/dialog-and-google-team-up-to-launch-free-zone/ . 29 November 2014 .
8. Web site: With Airtel and Google's Free Zone, access Web pages free . . June 26, 2013 . January 15, 2014 . May 5, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160505093257/http://www.ciol.com/ciol/news/190657/with-airtel-googles-free-zone-access-web-pages-free . dead .
9. Web site: How to use Airtel Free Zone and access Google services for free . Rana . Gogi . June 27, 2013 . January 15, 2014.
10. Web site: Google Offers Airtel Customers Free Internet . Tech Cabal . Matuloko . Muyiwa . December 20, 2013 . January 15, 2014.
11. Web site: airtel free zone . . June 26, 2013 . January 15, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140116104000/http://www.airtel.in/free-zone/ . January 16, 2014 .
12. Web site: airtel Free Zone . December 17, 2013 . January 15, 2014 . June 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140617184631/http://www.africa.airtel.com/wps/wcm/connect/africarevamp/nigeria/Home/personal/Internet/Services/freezone/ . dead .
13. Web site: Safaricom offers free Google. Biztech Africa. 15 November 2014.
14. Web site: Staying ahead of the curve.
15. Web site: Google Free Zone . October 25, 2012 . January 15, 2014 . Google Operating System blog (not affiliated with Google).
16. News: The Philippines gets Facebook Zero-style free mobile access to Google services via Globe Telecom . Knowles . Jamillah . November 8, 2012 . January 15, 2014.
17. Web site: Jana Mobile Inc. . Google Free Zone: Google's Challenge to Facebook Zero . December 3, 2012 . January 15, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140125060843/http://www.jana.com/blog/google-free-zone-googles-challenge-to-facebook-zero/ . January 25, 2014 . dead .
18. Web site: Google 'Free Zone' and Facebook 'Zero': Products Targeting Developing Populations . February 19, 2013 . January 15, 2014 . Innovation Series . Deibert . April.
19. News: Less than zero – When net neutrality backfires: Chile just killed free access to Wikipedia and Facebook. Mirani. Leo . Quartz . May 30, 2014. July 2, 2014.
20. Web site: Face Off in Chile: Net Neutrality v. Human Right to Facebook & Wikipedia. McKenzie. Jessica. June 2, 2014. July 2, 2014. July 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140705155029/http://techpresident.com/news/wegov/25090/face-chile-net-neutrality-v-human-right-facebook-wikipedia. dead.