Facebook will introduce a special version of Google’s Android software system next week that is modified to put the social network front and center on a smartphone. The software will debut on a handset made by HTC, according to a Facebook employee and another person who were briefed on the announcement.
Two things strike me about this, well let’s call it a rumour for now. When has a handset tied to a specific service ever worked out? And is this HTC’s chance to push some real volume?
But there are so many questions running through my head on this one.
- Presumably this is a way of Facebook solving the old “mow to monetise mobile” problem?
- Interesting that they are already putting Android fairly front and central. Unlike Samsung.
- Apps? Facebook apps or Android Apps or both? From which store?
- Why would anyone buy this over, say Windows phone which can essentially give you a Facebook homescreen or iOS which has reasonably tight Facebook integration and a nice app?
- What does this mean for apps on existing platforms?
- Will this result in additional fragmentation a la Kindle Fire?
Interesting times.