In an attempt to focus more on mobile users, Facebook is teaming up with DeviceAnywhere to ensure its mobile applications are optimized for specific handsets.
DeviceAnywhere is an SaaS platform that allows application developers and device manufacturers to test software on a variety of handsets from more than 30 mobile operators throughout the world.
Facebook has already had some success with its mobile applications, as the iPhone Facebook app is often on the App Store‘s most-downloaded list. Now Facebook is hoping to have that kind of luck with other smartphones.
“Although many companies offer mobile sites or applications for their consumers on-the-go, Facebook is taking it a step further by developing multiple applications that are customized to a user’s device,” DeviceAnywhere CEO Faraz Syed said. “Not only does this require testing an enormous amount of handsets, but also on carriers and networks on a global scale.”
Almost 20 million users access MySpace through a cellphone, causing the company to look at the mobile market as a strong growth avenue that could be monetized with relevant ads. However, neither Facebook nor MySpace have been able to significantly monetize its mobile users. The fact that neither company has strong location integration – a strong facet for other mobile social networks like Loopt, Brightkite and MocoSpace – could be the reason why.
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