Facebook launches 'Instagram Lite' for emerging markets
San Francisco, June 28: In a bid to add another billion users from emerging markets including India, Facebook-owned Instagram has quietly released a lighter version of its app called "Instagram Lite" for Android on Google Play App Store.
Although Facebook was yet to release an official statement, the appearance of 'Instagram Lite' on Google Play Store is a likely pilot run in a select countries to begin with.
There are millions of smartphone users in India who still have old variants with slow 2G Internet connectivity and "Instagram Lite" app can help them get in touch with friends and family.
"The 'Instagram Lite' app is small, allowing you to save space on your phone and download it quickly," read the app's description on Play Store.
"At just 573 kilobytes, 'Instagram Lite' is 1/55th the size of Instagram's 32MP main app. It lets you filter and post photos to the feed or Stories, watch Stories and browse the Explore page, but currently lacks the options to share videos or Direct message friends," TechCrunch reported on Thursday.
With this new version of the photo messaging app, users using older phones with less storage space or slower internet connections, would have access to Instagram without having to delete photos, apps or wait longer and pay more to download it.
The app would run on Android versions 5.0 and up.
"We are testing a new version of Instagram for Android that takes up less space on your device, uses less data and starts faster," an Instagram spokesperson told TechCrunch earlier.
With over a billion users, Instagram is a very popular app from the Facebook family.
Facebook launched "Facebook Lite" in 2015 which had 200 million users by the end of last year. Facebook "Messenger Lite" came in April this year.
Aiming to take on Google-owned YouTube, Instagram this month announced it would allow users to upload videos up to one hour in length, up from the previous one-minute limit.
"We launched IGTV (a button inside the Instagram home screen, as well as a standalone app) at an event featuring many of the Instagram creators who'll make it great," the company wrote in a blog post.
Not just celebrities, IGTV will let all users be a creator and let them upload vertical videos through Instagram's app or the web.
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RR beat RCB by six wickets in IPL
Guwahati (PTI): Blistering fifties by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Dhruv Jurel powered Rajasthan Royals to a six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL match here on Friday.
Sent in to bat, RCB rode on a fighting half-century by skipper Rajat Patidar (63) to post 201 for 8.
Virat Kohli (32), Romario Shepherd (22) and Venkatesh Iyer (29) also chipped in with useful contributions.
In reply, Sooryavanshi (78 off 26 balls) and Dhruv Jurel (81 not out off 43 balls) shared a 37-ball 108-run partnership for the second wicket to set the platform. Krunal Pandya (2/30) tried to bring them back with back-to-back wickets.
But Jurel, in the company of Ravindra Jadeja (24), completed the task with another 68-run stand, with two overs to spare.
For RR, Jofra Archer (2/33), Ravi Bishnoi (2/32) and Brijesh Sharma (2/37) took two wickets.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 201 for 8 in 20 overs (Rajat Patidar 63; Jofra Archer 2/33, Ravi Bishnoi 2/32, Brijesh Sharma 2/37).
Rajasthan Royals: 202 for 4 in 18 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 78, Dhruv Jurel 80 not out; Krunal Pandya 2/30, Josh Hazlewood 2/44).
