iMore has found evidence of a deep Facebook integration coming into iOS. Apple added Twitter support in iOS 5, so it is great to see that we could see Facebook in the next major version of iOS.
Twitter user @jackoplane is the one who found code indicating the Facebook integration in the iPad version of iOS 5.1 beta 3. It remains to be seen if it will actually be added in iOS 5.1, or if Apple will save it for a future version.
Facebook made today an interesting move by releasing the Facebook Messenger app. This is simply their messaging solution in one app, and nothing more. Users can send messages directly to friends or groups. Additionally, the user can choose to send an image or share a location with a friend.
Messenger is a separate app, so it only takes one click to get to your messages or send a new one. Messages are delivered through notifications and texts, so your friends are more likely to get them right away.
You can use Messenger to reach all of your friends — whether they’re on Facebook or in your phone contacts. All you have to do is type the person’s name.
The app should hit Google’s Android Market and Apple’s App Store in the coming few hours.
A lot seemto happen to Windows Phone today! Earlier we wrote that developers got access to Mano, and now the official Facebook app got updated to version 2.0. This whole new major version will add Push Notifications to the program.
Sony Ericsson will ship Android 2.3.3 to the Xperia arc and the Xperia play starting next week. Together with a newer Android version, Sony Ericsson has also included Deep Facebook integration.
The Deep Facebook Integration means that you’ll be able to browse and sync photos, contacts, calendar events and media shares with your Facebook account. Would have been even better if this update brought Android 2.3.4, and the new GTalk features with it.
Amazing to see Sony Ericsson push an update in such a short time. We all know the history the company has with providing updates to their hardware, and it isn’t really good. I like the direction they’re moving in!
Facebook Messenger for iPhone is a pretty comprehensive chat solution for all Facebook addicts around the world. It is currently available in the App Store for a price of $2.99.
Main features:
Chat with Facebook friends from your iPhone/iPod Touch
Easy-to-use interface
Get replies instantly with Apple Push Notifications
Make free VoIP calls to Facebook friends on desktop or iPhone/iPod Touch
Easily send photos from your album or camera
Keep track of all your chats and calls with message history
View your friend’s Wall in the embedded browser without leaving the app
We’ve previously learned about the HTC Desire S, HTC Incredible S and HTC Wildfire S. Now we also have two new “Facebook phones” from HTC – the HTC Salsa and HTC ChaCha. Both of these two new phones come with a dedicated Facebook button.
Both the Salsa and the ChaCha will have the following specs:
Android 2.3.3
600MHz processor
512MB ROM and RAM
Wi-Fi b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.0
5 megapixel rear-facing camera
Dedicated Facebook button
ChaCha specific features:
Full-QWERTY keyboard
2.6-inch TFT display
1,250 mAh battery
Salsa specific features:
3.4-inch touchscreen
1,520 mAh battery
As with all the other HTC devices announced today, also these two are expected to hit the market in Q2. Hit View Post for the full press release.
Martin Essl of Sony Ericsson told the audience at Inside Social Apps that all the company’s android devices will soon have Facebook installed by default and provide support for Facebook’s single sign on.
The emphasis was that Sony believes Facebook is the platform for social media and so it makes sense to have it installed by default. Like Facebook executives said earlier in the day, mobile has become the focus of 2011 and obtaining the support of device manufacturers will most definitely go a long way in ensuring the ubiquity of Facebook.
While the friction for user authentication is significant on many devices, on Sony Ericsson devices that friction will no longer be present for those developers who implement Facebook single sign-on. For those that were wondering about the scope of this announcement, Sony Ericsson sold 9 million android devices in the fourth quarter of last year.
Christmas brings with it the craziest shopping season of the year, especially with consumer electronics. In the image above you’ll see active Facebook clients for iPhone, and it shows a clear rise between the December 24th and 27th, aka Christmas. There has been roughly 2 million new Facebook for iPhone users between those days!
