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| Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg answers mobile rumours | Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg answers mobile rumours |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has responded to rumours that the company is planning to launch its own mobile phone. | |
| He told delegates at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to expect multiple devices built around the social network. | He told delegates at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to expect multiple devices built around the social network. |
| However, he appeared to dismiss the idea of a Facebook-branded handset. | However, he appeared to dismiss the idea of a Facebook-branded handset. |
| It had been speculated that the company was working with a major manufacturer, as Google did on its Nexus phones. | It had been speculated that the company was working with a major manufacturer, as Google did on its Nexus phones. |
| "A lot has been made about a single Facebook phone," said Mr Zuckerberg. | "A lot has been made about a single Facebook phone," said Mr Zuckerberg. |
| "But this year, you can expect to see dozens of phones with much deeper social integration than we have so far." | |
| He was referring to the Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) provided by Facebook that allow phone manufacturers to build social networking into their operating systems. | He was referring to the Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) provided by Facebook that allow phone manufacturers to build social networking into their operating systems. |
| Pushing a software solution, rather than getting into the hardware business is the right approach for Facebook, according to Gareth Beavis, mobile editor at Techradar.com. | Pushing a software solution, rather than getting into the hardware business is the right approach for Facebook, according to Gareth Beavis, mobile editor at Techradar.com. |
| "It gives operators and brands the opportunity to shape the system as they see fit," he said. | "It gives operators and brands the opportunity to shape the system as they see fit," he said. |
| Mr Beavis said he thought that Facebook integration would prove a strong selling point for cheaper smartphones, which lack the sophisticated features of higher-end devices. | Mr Beavis said he thought that Facebook integration would prove a strong selling point for cheaper smartphones, which lack the sophisticated features of higher-end devices. |
| Social devices | Social devices |
| Facebook plans to continue extending its presence within the mobile world. | Facebook plans to continue extending its presence within the mobile world. |
| "Phones are inherently social devices and the industry is just beginning to discover what's possible," said Mr Zuckerberg. | "Phones are inherently social devices and the industry is just beginning to discover what's possible," said Mr Zuckerberg. |
| According to figures from comScore, 30.8% of users accessing social networking did so from smartphones in January 2011. | According to figures from comScore, 30.8% of users accessing social networking did so from smartphones in January 2011. |
| For owners of lower-end non-smartphones the figure was just 6.8%. | For owners of lower-end non-smartphones the figure was just 6.8%. |
| Moves are being made to bring the social networking expecience to those more basic handsets. | Moves are being made to bring the social networking expecience to those more basic handsets. |
| Also at Mobile World Congress, Dutch security firm Gemalto launched a Facebook Sim card, designed to work in any GSM phone. | |
| The enhanced chip brings basic features such as status updating and Facebook messaging. | The enhanced chip brings basic features such as status updating and Facebook messaging. |
| It works by translating social networking updates into 160-character text messages. | |
| The system does not require a mobile internet connection and could help extend access across the developing world. | The system does not require a mobile internet connection and could help extend access across the developing world. |