Dialog and Google team up to launch Free Zone

• Deal brings zero data charges for web search, email and social media for over 7.5 million mobile users

Dialog yesterday announced the launch with Google Inc. of Free Zone powered by Google, which will provide Sri Lankan mobile users with access to Google search, Gmail, and social networking through Google+, with zero data charges.

Dialog mobile users can also visit the billions of Web sites connected through Google search without paying any data charges. Free Zone is optimized for feature phones – enabling any mobile user possessing a data capable handset to enjoy the power of web search, email and social media at no cost.

 “Providing our 7.5 Million Mobile Customers with a platform to discover the power of the internet at no incremental cost, and thereby accelerating Internet Literacy among Sri Lankan citizens has been a fundamental tenet of our vision for the mobile internet” said Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC, speaking at the announcement of the partnership. Today, our partnership with Google and the resultant launch of Free Zone powered by Google has made this vision a reality, and we are now able to empower Sri Lankan citizens with a supremely affordable route to discover the power of the internet in terms of Information search, email and collaboration through social media” he added.

Free Zone can be accessed at zero data charges and empowers first time Internet users with several fundamental features of the Internet. Dialog subscribers can access the service by visiting freezone.dialog.lk and simply logging intoFree Zone by using their respective username and password. Any user can create a Gmail account instantly on the Free Zone homepage and enjoy a multitude of connectivity and social media services from Google’s expansive portfolio.

 “Given that first time Internet user may be cautious with respect to data access charges, the open web is only as open as it is affordable. We’ve been working with Dialog to offer Internet services at no cost to anyone with a mobile phone. This gives people easier access to information in a way that benefits everyone, whether it’s an individual or a small business that wants to reach more people on the web. We also hope this convinces more Sri Lankans of the value of the mobile Web. Students can look up facts to help with homework. At home, you can quickly check a recipe. You could even look up lyrics to the song you want to sing along to,” said Julian Persaud, Managing Director at Google Southeast Asia.

Free Zoneaims to make the web accessible and affordable to all mobile users. The expansive set of powerful internet services available with zero data charges via Dialog mobile phones include Google Search – which will take Free Zone users to websites matching their search query, Gmail, and Google+ which enables users to share photos and messages with social groupings of family, friends and business or work associates. While Dialog Mobile users will not require a Data Package nor incur any data charges to access the powerful set of Internet Services on Free Zone powered by Google, access to more advanced services such as Attachment Download or browse through to web sites from the ones accessed in the free zone would also be enabled through the subscription to a standard data package.