Facebook, which now has 125 million active iPhone and Android users, will set its focus on the mobile part of its platform this year. CTO Bret Taylor, speaking at the Inside Social Apps conference, said that emphasis will be on HTML5-powered solutions, to maximize impact across all of the smartphone platforms.Both iOS and Android have Web browsers capable of HTML5. The BlackBerry browser supports some HTML5, and Nokia/Symbian should really have an HTML5-capable browser sometime in 2011. The advantages of developing an HTML5-powered mobile site are clear: not only is there at least 125 million users just waiting to enjoy interactive HTML5 content on their phones, but it would also mean that Facebook could spend its time creating a standards-compliant and cross-platform mobile website, rather than developing individual apps for each of the smartphone platforms.
Don't forget the developers, either: imagine writing an HTML5 app or game that works across every smartphone. It would bring a whole new level of immersion to FarmVille and CityVille players -- you could play it on the train, in the bathroom, or in bed!
Facebook to empower its massive mobile platform with HTML5 originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
