The rumors about Facebook launching their own phone, has been rounding the internet since 2010. The news suddenly springs and then dies down and it has been this way since a long time. Whenever was asked to comment on this matter officials denied any such plans. The rumor mill is switched on once again predicting Facebook phone to be released by the end of 2012. This time the news once again caught fire when a reliable source told Pocket lint that it is true and the device manufacturer is HTC and it is currently working on a device with code name Opera UL.
Sources said that HTC is working on Facebook phone that runs on Android Jelly bean OS, powered with a 1.4 GHz Krait processor and has an HD display with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution.
HTC has already made two handsets before with Facebook integration- The Salsa and The Chacha. However, both the phones were even far from appealing the customers. The company is still fighting to find a difference between a Facebook phone and a phone with Facebook app installed. It is true that Facebook is trying to find a new version for its app on Android.
The fact is that a phone that has Facebook is not a Facebook phone. It has to be an out and out Facebook based platform where social networking has to be the primary interface. It needs to have the ability to access the news, games, music etc just like users do on their personal computer.
Such a device is being engineered or not has yet to be confirmed officially by Facebook or HTC that has laid down the rumors in the past. On the hand, it does seem true this time if you closely observe the company’s personal moves. Facebook has picked 6 former iPhone engineers and one iPad engineer recently. It could also be for the reason to improve Facebook mobile site and Smartphone apps, but on the other hand it gives an impression of a new hardware cooking.
If the rumors are to be true then Facebook lovers would really rejoice. Building such a device would bring in huge profits, but it is not a minor task to do so, not to mention that it would put Facebook and Apple in direct and tough competition.
So, until any official revelations Facebook phone remains a cryptogadget.
