In a report published on NextBigWhat today, Flipkart has pulled itself out of the Airtel Zero Partnership. Airtel Zero was explained as an open marketing platform that will allow customers to access mobile applications at zero data charges. ‘Airtel Zero’ will allow everyone from big marketers to small-time application developers to make parts or their entire mobile app free for customers.
The platform was also expected to be a big win for customers as it will allow them to access their favourite mobile applications at no data charges, and also encourage them to try out new applications. However, recent reports on Net Neutrality concerns due to Airtel Zero, caused a lot of rage on Social Media and revolts everywhere. One of them being rating the Airtel App low on the app Stores.
Official Statement from Flipkart reads –
We at Flipkart have always strongly believed in the concept of net neutrality, for we exist because of the Internet. Over the past few days, there has been a great amount of debate, both internally and externally, on the topic of zero rating, and we have a deeper understanding of the implications. Based on this, we have decided on the following:
We will be walking away from the ongoing discussions with Airtel for their platform Airtel Zero. We will be committing ourselves to the larger cause of Net Neutrality in India. We will be internally discussing over the next few days, the details of actions we will take to support the cause. We will be working towards ensuring that the spirit of net neutrality is upheld and applied equally to all companies in India irrespective of the size or the service being offered and there is absolutely no discrimination whatsoever
Source: NextBigWhat