MediaTek Inc. and Facebook on Tuesday entered into a global to enable users in emerging markets to access Facebook, through affordable mobile devices.

The partnership will allow users of handsets powered by MediaTek’s Runtime Environment (MRE), to better connect with their friends, family and coworkers. 

MRE is MediaTek’s innovative middleware technology designed for mobile developers and application providers to deploy services and content for ‘Smart-Feature phones’.  The MRE solution provides millions of users in emerging markets with the ability to enjoy rich online experiences previously available only on smartphones.  MRE-enabled devices will enable many users to access leading Internet services, such as Facebook, for the first time.

According to a recent study by media research firm Informa Telecoms and Media, emerging markets will account for 60% of the mobile market by 2013. With 70% of mobile handsets sold in emerging markets being feature phones, this global partnership underscores the significant potential to present users worldwide with a gateway to access Facebook.

MediaTek is the world’s largest mobile chipset platform provider, shipping over 500 million units in 2010, for assembly into a wide range of mobile phones distributed worldwide. 

“Our new partnership with Facebook further reinforces MediaTek’s focus on providing differentiated services and value for handset brands, giving them the means to offer affordable, compelling and differentiated mobile solutions to consumers in key emerging markets such as India,” said Cheng-Te Chuang, Corporate Vice President of MediaTek.

Vaughan Smith, Mobile Partnerships and Corporate Development Vice President of Facebook added, "Every phone should be social and we're excited to be working with MediaTek to bring Facebook to more devices, in more markets around the world and helping users to connect and share anywhere, anytime."