Gemalto has revealed that Personal Argentina is the first operator to go live with its Facebook for SIM software application. The app will enable Personal Argentina’s 17.4m customers to access Facebook from any type of handset, and without the need for a data plan.  

The app, which is embedded inside the SIM card, allows users to easily access core Facebook features from the phone’s main screen. You can receive notifications of wall posts and messages, view friend requests and status updates. To begin using the service, just login using your existing Facebook account credentials.

“The launch of Facebook for SIM reinforces Personal’s history of delivering innovative solutions,” says Guillaume Lafaix, Gemalto’s vice president sales, Latin America South Cone. “At Gemalto, we share Personal’s vision that access to Facebook should be available to everyone, including those without access to PC-based internet, smartphones, or mobile data plans.”

There’s a Facebook for SIM demo here.