Facebook denies building smartphone
SOCIAL networking site rejects claim of plan to increase competition with major rivals.
FACEBOOK rejected claims that it is planning to build its own smartphone in a move which would increase competition with major rivals Google and Apple.
The denial came after TechCrunch, a technology specialist site, ran a story saying the company was developing mobile phone software, citing a “source with knowledge of the project." , UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported.
“Facebook is building a mobile phone, says a source who has knowledge of the project. Or rather, they’re building the software for the phone and working with a third party to actually build the hardware. Which is exactly what Apple and everyone else does, too.
"Specifically, Facebook wants to integrate deeply into the contacts list and other core functions of the phone. It can only do that if it controls the operating system,” wrote Michael Arrington, TechCrunch’s editor.
However, Facebook since denied the reports to several other sites that followed up the story, telling CNET, “Facebook is not building a phone. Our view is that almost all experiences would be better if they were social, so integrating deeply into existing platforms and operating systems is a good way to enable this.”
Business Insider, using information from a “plugged-in Silicon Valley source," also claimed that Facebook is developing smartphone software, using Google’s Android operating system as the basis.
Scott Ard, a writer for the site, said: “This means that Google is now essentially helping Facebook attempt to destroy Google! The big picture is that Facebook wants to be more a mobile platform, not just a service or an app.”
Earlier this year, Google entered the mobile phone market with the Nexus One. However, following disappointing handset sales, it discontinued selling the model via its web-only store.
Last week, Facebook launched Places, a location-sharing tool, in the UK.
Read more about Facebook denies building smartphone at The Telegraph.