Facebook Phone, Codenamed Buffy

Facebook Phone rumors are up again! All Things Digital claims that “the phone is planned to run on a modified version of Android that Facebook has tweaked heavily to deeply integrate its services.” It’s also reported that Facebook is working with Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC to build the smartphone, although Facebook had also allegedly considered partnering with Samsung to make the device, but went with HTC instead. A spokesman for Facebook declined to directly comment on development on the new Facebook phone (codenamed Buffy, just in case you forgot), but stated that “Our mobile strategy is simple: We think every mobile device is better if it is deeply social. HTC also declined to comment. It's certainly not HTC, which is reportedly the company Facebook has partnered with the build the hardware for the upcoming phone.

Facebook Phone - Buffy

Facebook's social features would be built deeply into the platform, of course, and apps would mostly come via HTML5. A spokesman for Facebook declined to comment on Buffy directly, but told AllThingsD:

“Our mobile strategy is simple: We think every mobile device is better if it is deeply social. We’re working across the entire mobile industry; with operators, hardware manufacturers, OS providers, and application developers to bring powerful social experiences to more people around the world.”

Mobile is critical to Facebook’s future. Facebook says it has 350 million active mobile users, and relationships with 475 global mobile operators. In other cases, Facebook has worked to take things a step further, allowing users to upload photos directly from the picture-taking app, or to integrate Facebook contacts with the phone’s address book.

Google and Apple run the two major smartphone operating systems, giving Facebook little say over its mobile destiny. The Facebook phone (Buffy) project represents a significant shift for Facebook, which has focused much of its mobile work on light collaborations with hardware makers looking to create more socially-oriented phones. Others, including Inq Mobile and Motorola, have also developed phones with dedicated Facebook buttons.