Bloomberg Reports Facebook Building Android Smartphones

destinyland writes "Reports are surfacing of a Facebook-backed smartphone running Google's Android system, built by INQ (who also manufactures a phone for Skype). GigaOm's Om Malik says he's been aware of the project 'for quite some time,' and Bloomberg News (linked above) reported that Facebook will release two AT&T smartphones in 2011, first in Europe and then in America. (Adding that 25% of Facebook users access the social networking site with their wireless devices.) " Whether it's pure semantics or pure misdirection, as of yesterday, Facebook acknowledges work with INQ, but describes the collaboration as customization, rather than a phone of their own.

Tinfoil hat time

[longhairedgnome]

Google and facebook, two of the most scandalous purveyors of communication, together on one mobile device that is with you everywhere you go...

Oh great! I can see the endless text messages now

[Chocolate Teapot]

Your wife just commented on a picture posted on your secretary's MMS
kjsmith [kjsmith.co.uk] and 6 other lawyers like this

Re:Nothing new here

[hex0D]

I'd be totally OK with facebook subsidizing some the cost of new phone; just because they intend it for use on facebook doesn't mean a lot of clever folks won't find ways to repurpose it.

And yeah, this seems about as newsworthy as the TV they keep advertising that allows you to tweet and post to FB from your sofa and has dedicated buttons on the remote. BFD.

Re:Nothing new here

[RyuuzakiTetsuya]

Holy crap.

The INQ1 is what the Kin should've been. Cheap, fast, lightweight with 3G connectivity and Facebook/Twitter integration?