Facebook has decided to take its website down a notch, or two, for a change, and has publicly launched Facebook Lite, a stripped-down version of the site indented for countries with slower Internet connections, which was previewed a few weeks ago. The new website was released in India and the US and, shortly after, Facebook announced that it would be available for anyone using the English version of the site, though that doesn't seem to be working at the moment.

The Lite version of the site was initially designed for less developed countries, where broadband connections are not commonplace. The new site would have just the basic and most used features of the site, allowing users to connect and share without having to be distracted by features they may not use. A simpler version of it would also appeal to new users, who may not have much experience with social networks or even computers, for that matter. With Facebook being a big hit with the older audience and spreading around the world, a version that started people off easier was really needed.

The new design gets rid of less used or resource-hungry features, leaving just the core functionality. The news-feed page features a simplified top toolbar, the items from your friends and a simple publisher that is now just made up of three buttons. The profile page follows the same pattern. One of the things that had to go was the app support, and there is currently no way to use apps with the Lite page. Some internal apps have been integrated with the design, like the Events one, which now shows up in the top toolbar, and the Photo and Video app available on the Profile page.

“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,” Facebook told TechCrunch about the decision to launch in the US as well.