Commenting on the launch of Facebook Home and the Facebook phone, Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, says: “After a protracted journey to market, the ‘Facebook phone’ finally arrives, yet not entirely in the way we had imagined.
“The HTC First looks to be the tip of the spear – a focused, affordable and 4G-enabled showcase of what is possible with richer Facebook integration on a handset. It’s the first of a number of devices across manufacturers which will embed the social network’s novel experience into the fabric of functionality.
“What did provide the wow moment was the Facebook Home app – Facebook’s attempt to own the home screen of millions of mobile users. With this app, every Android phone has the potential to become a Facebook phone.
“Facebook is a service, a platform and a vibrant ecosystem in one. As a social networking site it’s essential for Facebook to be on as many devices as possible, but only Android is open enough to give the social network freedom enough to truly integrate into a smartphone to the degree that Facebook wants and needs.
“Facebook intends to be the screen that greets users when they turn their phone on in the morning, the screen from which they search, surf and interact – the core of the entire experience.
“This app shows Facebook vying to be as essential – tying in contacts, IMs and even voice calls over the web with the introduction of their new Messenger service – as the smartphone itself. And no-one would put it past them to pull it off.
“Piggybacking off Android’s penetration and the platform’s flexibility to forge ahead in the mobile market is a shrewd move and one guaranteed to put a smile on the faces of eager investors.
“It remains to be seen whether Home will wrest control from Google in terms of being the primary port of call on a smartphone.”
Katherine Moss
Phone: 020 3021 5893
Email: katherine.moss@uswitch.com
Twitter: @uswitchPR
It’s all about “U”!
Thank you for indulging us over the last 20 years by using a small ‘u’ and a big ‘S’ when writing about our brand in your articles.
We are delighted to let you know that you are now off the hook - it’s big U’s all the way (and small s’s) as we undertake our biggest ever rebrand - so let your autocorrect go wild!
Uswitch is the UK’s top comparison website for home services switching. Launched in September 2000, we help consumers save money on their gas, electricity, broadband, mobile, TV, and financial services products and get more of what matters to them. Last year we saved consumers over £373 million on their energy bills alone.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a new business that also owns Money.co.uk and Bankrate.
If you would no longer like to receive our press releases please email prteam@uswitch.com with 'unsubscribe'.