Would it be classed as cool among teenagers and gadget enthusiasts to own a Facebook phone? This is something Facebook expects to be popular, if the latest rumors are anything to go by, and they will be using iPhone talent according to reports.
Last weekend we heard that Facebook had hired several former Apple engineers that are rumored to have worked on the iPhone hardware and software. Another article touched on that story and also mention that a tipster knows of three attempts to build a smartphone, which this would apparently be Facebook’s third shot at it. AllThingsD published an article last year explaining that HTC and Facebook were working on a phone; although it’s not clear what stage the project is at currently.
While these reports can only be classed as rumors, it seems likely that a real Facebook phone will release and most likely towards the end of 2012.
Facebook’s mission is clear: Facebook needs to find other sources of revenue as a new public company, but who would really want to own a Facebook phone over something as nice as the iPhone 5, expected around the same time? At least Facebook understands talent and goes after ex-iPhone engineers.
