Facebook phone made by HTC might not debut until mid-2013

posted by Nick T. / Jul 25, 2012, 9:30 PM

Facebook phone made by HTC might not debut until mid-2013

It has been a while since we last had any news about a potential "Facebook" phone or something. In fact, last time we had any word on the matter, albeit in the form of a rumor, was two months ago, when it was said that former Apple employees are being courted by the social network so that they would help with the development of the device.

Thanks to an anonymous source for Bloomberg, however, we are lead to believe that the project for a Facebook branded handset is still underway, even though the announcement of the rumored device seems to have been delayed. It is claimed that the Facebook phone won't be out until the middle of 2013. Previous rumors regarding such a smartphone suggested that it should debut in Q3 of this year. What could have caused the delay? Well, it is said that Facebook has partnered up with HTC on developing the device, and that HTC needs to invest more of its resources into developing its own devices before coming up with the next-gen Facebook phone.

We said next-gen Facebook phone because we've had smartphones targeted at users of the world's most popular social network before. The HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa, based on Google's Android mobile platform, were released last year with a dedicated Facebook button for quick access to social networking features. They weren't what one would call a smashing hit, however, although neither of them was too bad of a smartphone either. Will HTC's next attempt produce better results? Given the time it will be dedicated to developing a Facebook phone, chances are high of it being a hit rather than a miss, but then again, we will have to try it out first-hand before drawing an ultimate conclusion.

Neither Facebook nor HTC have confirmed the existence of a Facebook-branded mobile phone. It is presumed that if the device exists, it will run a heavily modified version of Android. However, it is rumored that Microsoft really wants to take part in the action as well, meaning that the device might be based on Windows Phone 8, although the possibility of that happening seems less likely right now.

source: Bloomberg via Slash Gear

Options

22 Comments

1. darktranquillity

Posts: 285; Member since: Feb 28, 2012

Htc cha cha and salsa were kinda facebook phones but a failure. And

posted on Jul 25, 2012, 9:51 PM 2

11. Schuler2828

Posts: 59; Member since: Jul 04, 2012

They had a Facebook phone?

posted on Jul 25, 2012, 11:43 PM 0

2. Samsomesh

Posts: 195; Member since: Jun 11, 2012

Htc chacha n salsa were midrange phones so nothing excellent.. But htc should make fb phone with jelly bean that will a hit

posted on Jul 25, 2012, 9:52 PM 1

4. Nick_T

Posts: 186; Member since: May 27, 2011

By mid-2013, we might already have Android Nutella on the horizon :)

posted on Jul 25, 2012, 10:15 PM 6

3. Birds

Posts: 1172; Member since: Nov 21, 2011

Well the longer it takes to get to the market... the better for the marker it will be....If you get what I'm getting at....We don't need gimmiky phones..

posted on Jul 25, 2012, 10:04 PM 0

5. loken

Posts: 462; Member since: May 09, 2012

How about Sony make a facebook phone... sony phones always have facebook integrated.

posted on Jul 25, 2012, 10:33 PM 2

6. lubba

Posts: 1313; Member since: Jan 17, 2011

Hopefully the OS will be WP because Facebook integration on WP is flawless.

posted on Jul 25, 2012, 10:38 PM 2

7. Jay_F

Posts: 236; Member since: Nov 29, 2011

I can't imagine much of a demand for a phone like this.

posted on Jul 25, 2012, 11:02 PM 2

8. pikapowerize

Posts: 1869; Member since: May 03, 2012

i hope of seeing a windows phone that is heavily customize!! if its an android phone..it might be dub as "just another android" if its WP people will be shock that microsoft make something that is different.. btw why htc? random thought, i thought nokia will skin WP too to make them look different from the other WP?

posted on Jul 25, 2012, 11:13 PM 0

9. KingNote

Posts: 15; Member since: Jul 25, 2012

I just don't understand why companies insist on manufacturing a Facebook phone #fail...

posted on Jul 25, 2012, 11:13 PM 5

10. Schuler2828

Me neither I mean all phones can get the Facebook app...But then again it's marketing Facebook is known by everyone they see a Facebook phone there like whoa cool, it's for people that aren't into technology as much as us and don't care about performance or any of that just the name, Like the iPhone.

posted on Jul 25, 2012, 11:39 PM 0

12. KingNote

Your absolutely right tho, maybe if they market the correct target audience it can be a success... But, as for me, i'll stick with high-end technology...

posted on Jul 26, 2012, 12:41 AM 1

14. Schuler2828

Agreed

posted on Jul 26, 2012, 12:58 AM 0

13. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

The Facebook phone should be called the HTC Drama.

posted on Jul 26, 2012, 12:41 AM 3

15. lubba

...or the HTC suckerberg.

posted on Jul 26, 2012, 1:39 AM 3

16. Mxyzptlk unregistered

HTC Like. HTC Social.

posted on Jul 26, 2012, 2:32 AM 0

17. script_writer

Posts: 56; Member since: Jun 27, 2012

Facebook phone: too little too late by the time that gets launched

posted on Jul 26, 2012, 2:33 AM 1

18. jtech

Posts: 101; Member since: Jul 14, 2011

What about a Myspace phone?

posted on Jul 26, 2012, 2:55 AM 1

19. Mxyzptlk unregistered

No one uses Myspace.

posted on Jul 26, 2012, 3:05 AM 0

20. Jay_F

Most likely why his comment was sarcastic.

posted on Jul 26, 2012, 12:45 PM 1

21. quakan

Posts: 1418; Member since: Mar 02, 2011

Yeah he didn't get it. Facebook is the new Myspace, but obviously Mxyzptlk didn't get the memo.

posted on Jul 27, 2012, 12:59 AM 0

22. MineralsMate

Posts: 3; Member since: Jul 26, 2012

Good grief. A FB phone? It's enough that FB takes over some people's desk/laptops, but now their phones, too? I'm happy with a very basic phone, but I'm looking at another basic smartphone: How is the Nokia Lumia 900? I want it with AT&T 4G LTE; is it fast enough? I'm in the beauty industry (ATL) but don't overuse a phone.