Analyst: A Facebook phone is 'stupid'

Analyst Rob Enderle has torn the rumored Facebook 'Buffy' phone apart this weekend in a post, going as far as to call it "stupid."

Additionally, the analyst compared the phone to the now-defunct Zune media player line created by Microsoft.

Facebook is said to be teaming with HTC to create a Facebook phone, one that is based on Android, but a variant.

By doing so, the company risks angering Google, a major HTC partner, who may not like having its operating system altered. Additionally, Facebook could anger Microsoft, an investor in Facebook and the creator of the Windows Phone 7 operating system.

Says Enderle (via PCM):

You see, HTC is on the other side of the Zune problem. Just as Microsoft lost trust from its hardware partners, an OEM like HTC stepping out against their software partner should have the same kind of collateral damage.

You never want to put yourself at odds with your key revenue source and sow seeds of distrust, but the Zune did that with partners. It was also a colossal failure at the same time, which upset retailers and made them lose their trust in Microsoft.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 27 Nov 2011 17:40

Hyasuma

it is a fail and it is stupid

27.11.2011 18:33 #1

Mysttic

I have to agree here; HTC is making a very risky move, when they are already in trouble. If nothing else should make for an interesting convo piece of they actually do release this phone. I could also see MS and Google fighting this every step of the way.

27.11.2011 19:56 #2

plutonash

People have functioned just fine without iPhones, galaxy phones, and htc sensations, I understand the luxury and convenience of owning these phones, but why would you need a dedicated Facebook phone. Who would need to use Facebook that badly to have a Facebook phone. I mean can't they just wait till they get home or just use a Facebook app? Sheesh.

27.11.2011 20:07 #3

KillerBug

1.) Google doesn't care that HTC modifies android; they already do it on every phone they make. They call it HTC Sense and it just ruins android.

2.) There was already a facebook phone, it was called the Kin and it was the biggest Microsoft failure in history...it did worse than Microsoft Bob, and that is saying a lot.

3.) Zune didn't fail because of quality issues...it failed because it came out too late and Apple already owned the market.

27.11.2011 21:22 #4

xtago

Originally posted by plutonash: People have functioned just fine without iPhones, galaxy phones, and htc sensations, I understand the luxury and convenience of owning these phones, but why would you need a dedicated Facebook phone. Who would need to use Facebook that badly to have a Facebook phone. I mean can't they just wait till they get home or just use a Facebook app? Sheesh. Plenty of kids will use it.

that is the general market for these things.

Plus with 900 million customers even if 1% only used it your still looking at a very large amount of users.

28.11.2011 03:44 #5

1nsan3

anyone who makes a FACEBOOK phone is in for failure lmfao u have got to be kidding me, really comon now...lol

your right, STUPID.

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28.11.2011 16:44 #6

Xplorer4

Quote:By doing so, the company risks angering Google, a major HTC partner, who may not like having its operating system altered.
Wow this guy must not use Android. I guess he is not aware of Motoblur,HTC Sense,Samsungs TouchWiz,etc. All the major players tweak android as it is. Motoblur already integrated Facebook in to moto phones to some extent, and then I believe all Android phones are able to sync your facebook contacts through the FB app.

Originally posted by 1nsan3: anyone who makes a FACEBOOK phone is in for failure lmfao u have got to be kidding me, really comon now...lol

your right, STUPID.
Making a phone the integrates tightly with one of the world most popular websites is stupid? I would have to disagree. Some people are totally obsessed with Facebook. As sad as it may be, it is reality. IF HTC does it right, then this could be a very popular phone imo, and could possibly even lure some Apple die hards to Android imo. Even if the phone is a failure, HTC is not going to fail simply because one phone flops.

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29.11.2011 02:57 #7

KillerBug

Originally posted by Xplorer4: Making a phone the integrates tightly with one of the world most popular websites is stupid? I would have to disagree. Some people are totally obsessed with Facebook. As sad as it may be, it is reality. IF HTC does it right, then this could be a very popular phone imo, and could possibly even lure some Apple die hards to Android imo. Even if the phone is a failure, HTC is not going to fail simply because one phone flops. Androids and iPhones are already highly integrated with FaceBook...the only way to make a phone more of a "FaceBook Phone" is to remove other functions, thus putting more focus on FaceBook...and that is dumb.

29.11.2011 04:56 #8

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