It seems as if there's some truth behind the Facebook Phone rumor after all.
Even though Facebook initially denied the gadgetry allegations that were originally reported by TechCrunch -- and later independently corroborated by CNET and Business Insider -- details continue to get a little more concrete.
Bloomberg is naming names.
The news agency reported yesterday that a pair of Facebook-centric phones are being made by Hutchison Whampoa (OTC BB: HUWHY.PK) backed INQ Mobile. It will be introduced overseas early next year, with a stateside push through AT&T
Even though the phones will be based on the same Google
This is obviously a crowded market, with Apple
More players mean thinner slices, so why not a Facebook Phone? The quick death of Microsoft's Kin notwithstanding, there could very well be a market for a niche device that matches the browsing habits of heavy Facebook users.
However, in this fickle space where social network pioneers have only had a couple of years at the top before something else comes around, a stateside release that's a year away is no slam dunk.
So much can change between now and then. Sure, Facebook may be up to 700 million or 800 million registered users at the time, but never underestimate the power of a better mousetrap -- or smartphone.
Does Facebook have everlasting power? Share your thoughts in the comment box below?