Facebook tests out simplified ‘Lite’ site to rival Twitter

FACEBOOK has begun testing a simplified service that loads a more streamlined layout on to screens.

Intended to speed up the process of viewing the social networking site, particularly in countries with limited broadband internet connections, industry experts suggested Facebook Lite could rival Twitter.

Microblogging site Twitter displays one-sentence updates about what users are doing, whereas Facebook pages have become increasingly cluttered with status descriptions, photographs and numerous other applications.

A number of Facebook users have been invited to test the service, which the company said was still in the trial stage and had not been launched worldwide.

In a statement, Facebook said: “We are testing a simplified alternative to Facebook.com that loads a specific set of features quickly and efficiently.

“Similar to the Facebook experience you get on your mobile phones, Facebook ‘Lite’ is a fast-loading, simplified version of Facebook that enables people to make comments, accept friend requests, write on people’s walls, and look at photos and status updates.

“We are currently testing Facebook Lite in countries where we are seeing lots of new users coming to Facebook for the first time and are looking to start off with a more simple experience.”

According to Facebook, the test invitation was temporarily sent to a larger number of users “by mistake”.

This sparked a flurry of activity on the web as people began trying to sign up to the service without success.

“The test was temporarily exposed to a larger set of users by mistake,” said a Facebook spokesman. “We have not opened up access to lite.facebook.com to all users at this time.

“People who are not part of the test and are trying to access Lite will be directed to Facebook.com as usual.”

One Facebook user selected to try out Lite in India showed the new-look site to technology blog TechCrunch.

According to the blog, the service “has an extremely clean look and feel to it — one that is reminiscent of the old days of Facebook, when its simplified look drew users away from the cluttered MySpace”.

“Of course, now Facebook is itself cluttered with settings, applications and toolbars,” it added. “So to many, this Facebook Lite design would be welcome.”

Tester Azhar Chougle said: “And let me tell you it’s so much damn faster than the normal Facebook.”