Facebook’s influence is growing despite looming anti-monopoly hearings. But experts say the company won’t be making its own phones again anytime soon.
How the Facebook Phone Entered the Red Ring – Rise And Fall
In 2013, Facebook unveiled its first phone in partnership with HTC, to mixed reviews. The phone was a flop with mediocre specs and a less-than-ideal user interface.
“Facebook phones lacked the hype to gain momentum,” said Yaniv Masjedi, CMO of Nextiva, in an email interview. “Consumers saw alternatives that offered better specs or were more affordable.”
Facebook must have figured out that social media experts were hungry for a way to always interact with the service. Seven years ago, its mobile strategy was still in its infancy, and the company wanted to expand to new platforms.
