Here we go again: Rumors of a potential Facebook phone have emerged once more, this time from the London business site City A.M.
According to the site, which makes no mention of its sources, Taiwanese manufacturer HTC will unveil two Facebook phones next month at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona. They will supposedly be high-end Android phones customized to display Facebook messages and news feeds on their home screens. The phones will also sport Facebook branding and colors.
HTC is responsible for making high-end Android phones like the Nexus One, Droid Incredible, and MyTouch 4G, so it would make sense for Facebook to approach the company to develop its own phone. The news comes after reports from September that the company was planning on a phone. In an interview with TechCrunch, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was vague on the companya4a4s mobile plans:
At the end of the day, when people say a4Abuilding a phonea4 they actually can mean very different things. Internally, the way we talk about our strategy, ita4a4s like the opposite of that. Our whole strategy is not to build any specific device or integration or anything like that. Because wea4a4re not trying to compete with Apple or the Droid or any other hardware manufacturer for that matter.
The company is clearly pursuing some sort of mobile strategy, but the notion of a dedicated Facebook phone remains difficult to swallow. One other possibility, especially since the current rumor centers around HTCa4a4s involvement, is that wea4a4ll see a new version of HTC&'s Sense user interface for Android with heavy Facebook integration. The company announced its latest Sense revision last year at the Mobile World Congress, so it&'s certainly due for an upgrade.
In the long run, that makes more sense for Facebook, since it could get prime real estate on many of HTCa4a4s upcoming and current Android phones without worrying about building a device of its own.
Calling all developers: We want to write up your app for VentureBeata4a4s Mobile AppSpotlight! If you have an innovative mobile app that hasna4a4t been featured on VentureBeat yet, submit it for consideration right away. The Mobile App Spotlight is sponsored by The Intel AppUp developer program.
Previous Story: Amazon launches Kindle Singles: for when a full ebook is just too much
Print Email Twitter Facebook Google Buzz LinkedIn Digg StumbleUpon Reddit Delicious Google More&8230'
Companies: Facebook, Google, HTC
People: Mark Zuckerberg
Companies: Facebook, Google, HTC
People: Mark Zuckerberg
Devindra Hardawar is VentureBeat's lead mobile writer and East Coast correspondent. He studied philosophy at Amherst College, worked in IT support for several years, and has been writing about technology since 2004. He now lives in Brooklyn, New York. You can reach him at devindra@venturebeat.com (all story pitches should also be sent to tips@venturebeat.com), and on Twitter at @Devindra.
Have news to share Launching a startup Email: tips@venturebeat.com
VentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters. Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
Comments