Almost as persistent as rumours that Microsoft is building its own ‘Surface Phone’ are claims that Facebook is also developing a handset of its own. The company has issued numerous denials of this in the past; its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, even stated just over three months ago that it “wouldn"t make much sense” for Facebook to build its own device, given that the social network benefits greatly from its ubiquity across multiple platforms.
But the rumour has resurfaced once more, this time via Pocket-lint, who claim that they have a “very reliable source” who’s confirmed that the oft-mooted device is more than just the stuff of hearsay, and is a very real handset that’s currently in development. Indeed, the source says that the handset is being built by HTC and is presently known as the ‘Opera UL’, unambiguously adding that “it is the Facebook phone, made for Facebook”.
A device known as the HTC Opera UL has also appeared on the online NenaMark2 benchmark test, with specs including a 1.4GHz processor of unknown build, a Qualcomm Adreno 305 GPU and HD (1280x720px) display, along with Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean.
As for when the mystery handset might be revealed, your guess as is as good as ours. The source said that “apparently, it’s been delayed”, but that obviously says nothing to help narrow down a specific timeframe.
Frankly though, this rumour’s done the rounds so many times that we’ll only really believe it when Zuckerberg confirms it himself.
Source: Pocket-lint | Concept artwork image via dotpod