Report: Facebook to enter the hardware business with video chat device

If a new report published today is legit, Facebook could be entering the hardware business with a device called Portal. The product is designed for the home and is meant to help families stay connected through video chats and the use of other social media platforms. Portal is expected to be unveiled during the company's annual developer conference in May and could ship during the second half of this year.

The Portal will be similar to Amazon's Echo Show smart speaker, which includes a 7-inch display. The Facebook device will include a wide-angle camera that will be able to recognize faces and match them with their Facebook account.

Compared to the Echo Show, Portal will be much more costly. Facebook is expected to charge $499 compared to the $230 Amazon charges for the Echo Show. Facebook could decide to lower the price when the device is first released in order to help it get some traction from consumers.

Facebook declined to comment on this report, but CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly told employees that he doesn't care if Portal turns a profit as long as it encourage owners to use it like a phone to stay in touch with friends and family.

source: Cheddar