Facebook has sparked further rumours of a possible smartphone launch, inviting press to see its new ‘home on Android’ this Friday.
The reason for the 4 April event at the social network’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California, is a closely guarded secret.
Company watchers have only the invitation, with the reference to Android, to go by. The rumours are similar to those that emerged earlier this year, when Facebook unveiled an enhanced search feature for its website.
Facebook-centric operating system?
Many analysts believe that it’s unlikely that Facebook would produce its own handset. Instead, given past comments by founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg that Facebook is not planning its own device, a bespoke version of the Android operating system would make more sense and underline the social network’s growing emphasis on ensuring that customers keep logging on to its service as they switch to handheld devices.
So the company is expected to announce a collaboration with a hardware manufacturer, such as Taiwan’s HTC, which would produce the handset, while it would supply the operating system.
The first details of Facebook’s mobile phone have revealed a new ‘home’ app – and it could turn any Android handset into a ‘Facebook Phone’.
According to website Android Police, the software will be unveiled alongside a handset developed by the social networking giant and phone maker HTC at a special event on Thursday.
Codenamed Myst, the handset is expected to feature dedicated Facebook menus and screens.
