My, my, talk about an age old rumour that simply wont lay down and die. Of course I am speaking about the latest speculation that the Facebook phone, a device more illusive that the Scarlet Pimpernel, has again reared its phantom head with word that the social networking site is again planning to launch a Facebook phone.
According to an article over on Pop Herald, the news of plans for the Facebook phone reared its head on The New York Times, that said Facebook has hired several ex-Apple hardware and software engineers that worked on the iPhone, and one that worked on the Apple iPad, and obviously this info was from people that wish to remain unnamed.
Over on In Entertainment however, they are asking whether the arrival of the Facebook phone would have an effect on sales of the iPhone 5, as they know both the iPhone 5 and Facebook phone would have a battle to gain the hearts of teens. They say that many teens will want to upgrade their smartphone to the next iPhone, but if the Facebook phone should appear then perhaps those teens just might turn away from the new iPhone in favour of the Facebook phone.
Both Apple gear and Facebook have a huge following, with Facebook having some 900 million active users, so the big question here is, if Facebook does finally deliver the Facebook phone, will many transfer their loyalty over to the Facebook phone, and abandon iOS, Windows Phone and Android?
Apparently Facebook is working with HTC on the rumoured Facebook phone, which apparently has the codename of Buffy, a codename we have previously heard of way back in the November of 2011, a smartphone rumoured to run a custom version of the Android operating system, and be heavily integrated with Facebook services.
If the Facebook Buffy smartphone does materialise and sports the Android operating system, then really the Android faithful wouldn’t be shifting their loyalty from the platform, but as many simply love accessing their Facebook account via their phone, there is a possibility that people will move from the iPhone, and Windows Phone to get the Facebook phone, although in what quantities obviously remains to be seen.
Having said that, as Facebook has apps on most platforms that lets the user pretty much do whatever they wish on the social networking site, is there really a need for a Facebook phone, and if so would it do as well as anticipated, would there be a mass exodus from other devices just to own the Facebook phone?
Personally I doubt it, I have been an Android user from the start, and doing whatever you want to do on Facebook doesn’t mean you need a Facebook phone.
Of course, Facebook hasn’t actually come out and said they are delivering the Facebook phone to the mobile space, and as such the Facebook phone still remains one of life’s little mysteries, so there may never be that social challenge.
So we ask our readers this question, would you ditch a smartphone such as the iPhone 5, a Nokia Lumia phone, or an Android handset such as the Samsung Galaxy S3 in favour of a Facebook phone for your social network needs?