Facebook and Ericsson launch innovation lab

HumanIPO reported last year Facebook had partnered Ericsson, as well as Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm, Samsung and MediaTek, to launch Internet.org, aimed at providing internet access to five billion people, while on Monday the initiative announced the launch of SocialEDU to provide Rwandan students with free access to online education.

The lab is designed to tackle the most critical aspect of Internet.org, which is making internet access available to all.

Based on its Device and Application Verification service capabilities and the company’s technology leadership in mobile networks, Ericsson will provide Facebook and application developers with the ability to simulate different network environments from around the world. This will allow them to develop and test mobile applications and services.

“With this lab, developers will be able to simulate network conditions typically found in new markets, giving them an environment to test and optimize their applications under a number of different scenarios,” said Jay Parikh, vice president of infrastructure engineering at Facebook.

“This is a unique capability that Ericsson brings to the table and we are happy they have taken a leadership position with us in this initiative.”

“The goals of Internet.org are very much aligned with our long-standing ideal that communications is a basic human need,” said Johan Wibergh, executive vice president and head of business unit networks at Ericsson.

“The creation of the lab will provide a unique environment for testing and ultimately optimizing applications regardless of network, device or operating system. The collaboration with app developers will provide Ericsson with invaluable understanding of their requirements on our networks, which we can apply to ensure the continued development of the best performing networks globally.”

The lab is expected to open in the second half of 2014 on Facebook’s campus in Menlo Park, California.

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