HTC developing a "Facebook" Smartphone? Facebook denies the rumour

The rumour started from a web site stating that HTC was going to release a Facebook Smartphone imminently. The social network has denied this rumour.

Is the social network Facebook trying to enter the mobile telephone market with the release of their own handsets? The rumour has been circulating for the last few quarters, with it being denied by the related parties. The hardest evidence provided yet was seen on TechCrunch a few months ago stating that Facebook was working on plans following this direction, obliging the social network to confirm whether this was really their intention. Whether a dedicated handset will interest everyone with dedicated services on their platform is still a question to be answered.

The site CityAM has now stated that Facebook will make an announcement at the MWC 2011 show in Barcelona with the presentation of two "Facebook Smartphone’s" designed by Taiwanese manufacturer HTC. These will be two top of the line models carrying the Facebook logo on the front and the social networks colours.

The new rumour is that it will call on Android which could be modified to prioritise Facebook services and assure interaction with the handsets contact book, presented as being very similar to Google’s Nexus family.


Integration in the mobile OS, but not a dedicated Smartphone
Seeing the rumour quickly spread, Facebook quickly reacted and denied the information. Dan Rose from Facebook indicated "This is simply a new example of a manufacturer having used our public API’s and having integrated it into their handsets in an interesting way".

"The rumours suggesting that there is something going on with a HTC handset is exaggerated", he stated to a journalist, confirming that there is no Facebook branded handset.

There is still interest in Facebook getting into the mobile world which would lead to developments from the social network. Most handset manufacturers would be interested in seeing Facebook’s involvement in related products, but a pure Facebook Smartphone is at this time still in the wind.