Facebook unveils Home for Android

<p> Facebook this morning launched its own Android platform called &ldquo;Facebook Home&rdquo; that integrates the social network on the home screens of smartphones.</p><p> The new mobile phone system&nbsp;offers users the ability to update home screens, integrate Facebook and text messaging and post a status, photo or check-in easily from nearly any screen on their phones.</p><p> Facebook Home is similar to Android launcher apps as it changes the homescreen of the devices as well as the way apps are accessed.</p><p> When installed, it shows the Facebook updates from your friends on the home screen. It also allows users to update their Facebook status directly from the home screen.</p><p> &ldquo;We think this is the best version of Facebook there is,&rdquo; said Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg at the California press conference unveiling the new software earlier today.</p><p> HTC will be the first smartphone maker to feature Facebook Home, while some Android users will also be able to download it onto premium HTC and Samsung smartphones.</p><p> The announcement puts an end to rumours circulating yesterday that Facebook was looking to manufacture its own phone,</p><p> Zuckerberg said that the company decided to make Facebook Home a software suite in order to reach a wider audience of the network&rsquo;s users.</p><p> He argued that a phone manufactured by Facebook itself could only reach a fraction of the network&rsquo;s users.</p><p> Facebook Home will be available&nbsp;on eligible devices on April 12.</p><p> <strong>Stay&nbsp;on <em>B&amp;T </em>this morning to find out what the experts have to say about Facebook Home.</strong></p>