PETALING JAYA: Jennifer got married last week, I saw her photo on Facebook. Let’s chat on Windows Live Messenger and discuss our Tokyo holiday plans! Beyonce is coming to town! I heard the latest news on Twitter!

Do these updates sound familiar to you? If so, you’ve already tapped into the marvellous world of social networking to keep in touch with your friends and associates.

Facebook is one of the most successful social networking sites — it’s a place where you can look up long lost friends and meet new ones. Also, you can easily keep up with your friends’ activities by reading their newsfeeds or by viewing their latest photos.

Similarly, you too can use Facebook to post regular updates, share videos, send virtual gifts and play games with your friends.

Another social networking site that is a big hit is Twitter. People regularly access Twitter to share information and ideas, and comment on the latest happenings in their lives.

It is also an ideal place to promote one’s company or products, or for customers to share feedback on products and services.

Staying connected

However, once you start using a social networking site, you will want to be connected to it all the time. And the ideal way to do that is by using a mobile phone.

Most new mobile devices come preinstalled with social network applications so users can get started immediately.

According to Juniper Research, popular social networking sites have attracted increased mobile Internet usage.

The number of active users of mobile social networking sites is expected to rise from 54 million in 2008 to nearly 730 million in 2013.

US President Barack Obama used social networking sites to engage with the American public during his election campaign.

His media team sent text messages throughout the campaign to keep his supporters up-to date and also to create a sense of connection between him and his supporters.

Also, they communicated with the public using Facebook and Twitter and encouraged members of the public to organise events through MyBarackObama.com.

Pick a package

To make it more affordable to stay connected, Maxis is currently offering several service packages tailored to the needs of the user.

For instance, the prepaid BlackBerry service package allows Hotlink prepaid customers to access a range of services that meet their needs ranging from e-mail to social networking.

Customers who prefer to chat with friends and update their status regularly on their social networking sites can chose the Social Package.

While those who wish to check e-mail and communicate with friends daily can choose the Messaging Package.

Consumers today are definitely more tech savvy and are using their mobile devices for more than just calling and sending messages.

Today’s advanced mobile devices, affordable data packages and social networking applications will allow them to communicate in a variety of ways.

The Mobile Internet Adoption initiative was formed with the objective of moving Malaysians towards Mobile Internet. It is a collaboration of Star Publications, Sin Chew Media Corp, Utusan Malaysia, Maxis Communications and Aegis Media.

For the period Aug 31-Oct 31, Maxis will waive data charges for its subscribers who visit the three newspapers’ WAP portals, which can be accessed at:

http://thestarmobile.com

wap.sinchew-i.com

m.utusan.com.my