New Facebook Phone from HTC Out Later This Year?
Although nothing has been confirmed, rumors are starting up again of a potential collaboration between Facebook and HTC in order to develop a customized Facebook smartphone. HTC, of course, is one of the leading Android platform phone makers, so the reports are suggesting that this new phone will have a specially customized version of the Andoroid operating system adjusted to fully integrate all of Facebook’s services and features. Two previous HTC models – the Salsa and the Chacha – featured Facebook integration, but certainly not to the extent that would come with a full partnership with the social networking giant. The closest example of how this modification will work is Amazon’s Kindle Fire, which also operates on a heavily modified Android OS, developed specifically for the device.
Even those these are all still just rumors at this point, the question must be asked – why does Facebook want to get into the mobile hardware game in the first place? Experts are guessing that this is intended to drive their next phase of user growth. Facebook recently announced that it has 500 million monthly mobile users, so turning their focus to the mobile market seems like a logical next step. These 500 million users already have such an affinity for Facebook as to use it on the go, so they seem like a viable target for Facebook’s first hardware product.
It must be noted that of the mobile platforms available now, most have some level of Facebook integration. But, a fully customized platform would offer advantages to both Facebook users and Facebook itself. As mentioned, Facebook users would benefit from being able to use Facebook’s features much more easily. As for the benefits to Facebook, as it stands now, it’s difficult for Facebook to offer mobile advertising, a key monetization element that would be much simpler with a fully integrated platform. Their top competitors in this space are Google, Microsoft and Apple, each of whom already has a proprietary mobile platform.
Still, some experts are questioning whether it makes the most sense for Facebook to invest in developing their own mobile platform, in favor of developing better apps to be used universally. But until anything is officially announced either way, it remains as mere speculation.
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