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A while ago, it was discovered that Facebook, the popular social networking site, had started testing out a new version of its service dubbed 'Facebook Lite'. At the time, it was unclear as to when the choice to have the Lite version would become publicly available, though as public testing was already underway, it was expected that it wouldn't be long. Today, according to TechCrunch, it seems the site has suddenly gone live for both the United States and India.

What exactly is so appealing about a stripped-down version of Facebook? For many, it's the prospect of having a cleaner timeline; one that's riddled with endless quizzes and games can be frustrating for those who aren't interested in that aspect of it. Of course, it's not for everybody, but it's certainly great that users are given the option now. If you haven't already seen what it looks like, check out the link at the beginning of this article.

The project was originally meant to be for areas where high speed Internet connections are rare, though many users in other regions showed their interest in it, thus leading Facebook to make the decision to have the service available everywhere. The company posted a public statement on the matter just earlier, reading, "We decided to roll out Facebook Lite in the U.S. to give users a simple, expedient alternative to facebook.com, and hope that it will fill this need. While the majority of our user base is outside the United States, we're always working to enhance the new user experience even in markets where facebook.com is easily accessible. We have also found that people who are new to Facebook tend to be most interested in a simpler experience, focus on establishing their network of friends and communicating with them by writing on their walls, sending messages, and looking at pictures. We have introduced the Lite site with these new users in mind."

If you're in the United States or India, you can visit the new lite.facebook.com URL to try it out.

Update: If you're not in the U.S. or India, have a try at getting on Facebook Lite anyway. A few people have said that they can get access in areas like Singapore, and I've personally been able to use it in New Zealand without any trouble. If it works for you now, please say so in the comments.

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