(AFP Photo/Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Social media website Facebook announced on Thursday the release of its first mobile phone, known as ‘First’, to be produced by Taiwanese company HTC.
The phone, which will run on an Android operating system, will also be equipped with Facebook’s new ‘Home’ application, itself a collection of individual apps displayed on the phone’s screen.
Home will display posts from users’ Facebook news feeds, including messages and photos, instead of the usual menu of apps which are displayed on smartphones like Apple’ iPhone.
“You’re going to be able to turn your Android phone into a great social phone,” said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, during a conference at the company’s headquarters, according to the Wall Street Journal. “It becomes the home of your phone.”
First will operate on the Android’s new 4.1 Jellybean model, and will be equipped with a 4.3 inch screen and a dual core processor.
The new phone will be released in the United States on 12 April, and will be marketed by AT&T and available for a price of $99.99.
