Facebook smartphone set to launch tomorrow

Facebook smartphone set to launch tomorrow

The communications industry is waiting with bated breath for tomorrow’s rumoured launch of the new Facebook mobile phone.

The new product is expected to feature an HTC handset with a customised Android operating system.

Six days ago the social networking company sent out invitations to a press event where it promised to show off the firm's 'new home on Android.'

The event will be held at the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, California tomorrow.

According to reports, the company has been working with the Taiwan-based HTC for over 12 months to make an Android-based phone that showcases Facebook's social networking services at its heart.

This is the first piece of hardware Facebook has created since its inception in 2004.

It’s unknown whether Facebook will "fork" Android – meaning customising the Google operating system so it blocks direct access to Google Play, Google mobile search and YouTube. This is what Amazon did to create Kindle Fire, also operating on Android.

Alternatively the social network might "skin" Android – meaning build a customised Facebook layer on top of the operating system.

Some reports have indicated the Facebook-centric operating system will come preloaded on the HTC phone and that the phone will automatically display a user's Facebook home page when the device is switched on.

The move is understood to be attempt by Facebook to significantly boost its revenue in the mobile space, after it released figures earlier this year showing massive growth potential in the sector.

According to Facebook, its mobile business accounted for 23% of total ad revenue in the last quarter of 2012, up from 14% in the third quarter.

HTC is the world's third-largest maker of smartphones and had a 6% share of the mobile phones sold in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of last year, down from 14% a year earlier, according to eMarketer.




Please login with linkedin to comment

Latest News

Limited Tickets Still Available For First Ever Industry Pantomime
  • Advertising

Limited Tickets Still Available For First Ever Industry Pantomime

With just over 24 hours to go until the world premiere of Addy Lala and the Mood Tea Thieves, limited tickets are still available for the pantomime, which will run for one night only at the Everest Theatre in Sydney’s Seymour Centre on December 5th. All in the industry are encouraged to come along to […]

Palin Communications joins GlobalCom PR Network
  • Marketing

Palin Communications joins GlobalCom PR Network

Specialist Australian health PR agency, Palin Communications, has joined GlobalCom PR Network with a view to delivering meaningful, consistent, impactful, global health campaigns across a range of countries and regions.

2045: A New Melbourne-Based Creative Agency Founded by Tim Evans and Nick Auditore
  • Marketing

2045: A New Melbourne-Based Creative Agency Founded by Tim Evans and Nick Auditore

2045, a Melbourne-based creative agency founded by Tim Evans and Nick Auditore has just launched. The agency takes its name from the year futurist Ray Kurzweil predicted organic and artificial intelligence would converge. Lead Image: 2045 Team Evans was formerly a Partner and Executive Strategy Director at DT (now AKQA), before co-founding B.B.E in 2015. […]

New Years Eve fireworks
  • Marketing

National Breast Cancer Foundation Announced as Charity Partner For NYE Sydney

The National Breast Cancer Foundation has been announced as the Charity Partner for Sydney New Year’s Eve. The Australian not-for-profit organisation is represented by the pink ribbon and raises money to fund world-class research towards its vision of zero deaths from breast cancer. Research that saves lives through a better understanding of how to prevent […]

Emporium Unveils Unique Christmas Campaign: “Every Tradition Starts Somewhere”
  • Campaigns

Emporium Unveils Unique Christmas Campaign: “Every Tradition Starts Somewhere”

This holiday season, Emporium Melbourne has announced its festive creative campaign that celebrates and encourages the Melbourne community to embrace their personal ‘untraditional traditions’ – the unique traditions that make Christmas truly special for them, and their family. The campaign’s tagline, “Every tradition starts somewhere”, reflects Emporium’s commitment to embracing, inspiring and applauding diverse traditions […]

Reddit Updates Conversation Placement Ads Formats
  • Technology

Reddit Updates Conversation Placement Ads Formats

Reddit has announced updates to its new ads placement with Carousel Ads and Product Ads. These new units, placed in the heart of Reddit discussions, provide an even more dynamic and compelling way for advertisers to scale to relevant audiences, deliver deeper value to users, and drive stronger, full-funnel performance among the hundreds of thousands […]

Full Throttle Into 2024: Drive.com.au Announces 12 New Products In 2024 Upfronts
  • Media

Full Throttle Into 2024: Drive.com.au Announces 12 New Products In 2024 Upfronts

Automotive Network Drive has announced its 2024 upfronts, its biggest in more than a decade, with a suite of more than 12 new products that underpin its vision to be the number one automotive network in Australia. Now in its 27th year and with a monthly audience of 2.45 million, Drive is leveraging its reputation […]