Wikipedia has begun piloting a service that sends articles via text message, primarily aimed at users in Africa.
The online encyclopaedia has partnered with mobile operator Airtel to offer the free initiative which is being tested out in Kenya. The service aims to reach those with little or no internet service.
The trial will be active for three months, said Dan Foy, technical partner manager for the Wikimedia Foundation.
"Throughout most of the developing world, data-enabled smartphones are the exception, not the rule," he said.
"That means billions of people currently cannot see Wikipedia on their phones."
To ‘Wikipedia Zero’, users need to dial *515#, after which they will receive a text message prompting them to search for articles.
Western technology companies see the region as a major source of future growth.
Facebook, for example, is looking at expanding into these markets with their Internet.org initiative.
Tom Jackson, who edits African technology news website HumanIPO, said Wikipedia’s initiative would be warmly welcomed.
"There has been a steady move towards putting educational material online in many African countries, led mainly by the private sector rather than governments, but access to the internet remains a problem given that most Africans surf on their phones rather than browsers.
"This step increases the chances of access, especially as there is functionality to provide Wikipedia via SMS. Feature phones are still dominant in Africa, so this is a helpful addition."
He added: "I just hope it comes with the same warnings that European and American kids are given about taking Wikipedia at face value!"
