The first internet-free Facebook, email and online chat service for Portuguese-speaking Africans has been launched by ForgetMeNot Africa. The new Ch@t+ service uses ForgetMeNots Message Optimiser technology to convert Facebook actions and updates, emails and online chat messages into SMS format, and vice-versa, to bypass the need for internet access.

Meanwhile, mobile operator T-Mais is enabling internet messaging via SMS in the Portugese-speaking islands of Cape Verde to improve its 100,000 subscribers access to mobile internet.

The latest ITU figures show more than 60 per cent of people in the country have a mobile phone subscription, making mobile phones the most convenient way for Cape Verdeans to access internet messaging.

Jeremy George, COO for ForgetMeNot Africa, says: “Our development work means that ForgetMeNot Africa technology can now serve the vast majority of people across Africa, no matter whether they speak English, French, or Portuguese. This is a major step towards our aim to bridge the digital divide in Africa by providing internet messaging on every mobile phone on the continent.”

Customers can use the CH@t+ service for free until 18 December.