Sep 29 2011

Why I Reckon There Will Never Be a Facebook Phone

I have been sitting on this one for a while to allow appropriate time for stewing but I think it’s about time for it to come out out of the oven.

I don’t think we’ll ever see a Facebook phone.

There has been recurring speculation in the media about a Facebook phone and while Mark Zuckerberg dodges the question time and time again I don’t think it’ll see the light of day. I don’t think Facebook wants the burden of hardware and software support even if it partners up with the likes of Samsung (who isn’t particularly cosy with Apple at the moment) or HTC (who have no qualms about partnering with anyone it seems).

So why do I think we won’t see a Facebook centric phone?

For starters, it’d be incredibly restrictive. How would competing social media services like Twitter and Google Plus work? What about sending photos out to Flickr with an app? I doubt Facebook would want to facilitate to transfer of information away from its own platform and into somebody else’s hands. Sure, you could argue that Google could potentially force you to use its services on an Android device (and let’s face it, the optimal experience would be to use its services) but I dare say that it works fine using alternative services (like your own e-mail address, corporate Exchange e-mail, etc). Furthermore, going down this route would violate the “don’t be evil” directive that Google holds dear.

What I see is a compromise though. Let’s join some dots.

  1. Many parties have a stake in Facebook including Microsoft (albeit with a small share under 2%),
  2. Facebook includes Skype technology which was recently acquired by Microsoft,
  3. Microsoft does not run a competing social network of its own (although you might argue that Windows Live tries to be a social network but it is more of an aggregator),
  4. Windows Phone bakes Facebook support into the OS without extra apps,
  5. Facebook has been very frosty with Apple particularly with Ping integration for Facebook.
Get where I am going?
Windows Phone is already the Facebook phone or an early version of it. Whilst Skype support is missing (and I reckon Microsoft would be insane not to include it at some point down the track) you now have access to Facebook chat right in the device thanks to the Mango update. Contacts integration is already there as is the social stream integration as well. There would also need to be some work to get the Facebook inbox to appear just like another e-mail account on the phone (a feature that would not appear on any other competing devices) and you’d be very close I reckon.
Maybe you could paint a Windows Phone blue now and call it a Facebook phone?

Boydo

My name is Boyd and I’m a Service Management Specialist with a knack for operational data gathering, transformation, analysis and reporting.

In 2012, I obtained my Masters of Science in Information Technology through the University of New South Wales @ The Australia Defence Force Academy (UNSW@ADFA).

I was also part of an online community known as the Panasonic Insider Crew in the capacity of “Insider Guru” for Panasonic Australia where I interacted with other tech enthusiasts and find out more about Panasonic's latest gadgets.

I love technology, gadgets, and the Internet and maintain a keen interest in these areas locally, nationally, and globally. I hope by sharing my views on these topics that people will receive an honest point of view from someone with a genuine interest in these topics.

I have also written and edited articles for Neowin - you can check out my articles over @ https://www.neowin.net/news/poster/boyd_chan

I hope you enjoy reading my blog!

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