Facebook: No Longer a Pain in the App
Last Thursday, Facebook provided its iPhone and iPad app users with a much welcomed update. The app had been sluggish, buggy, and frustrating. I often found myself using the app, and just giving up on it because it was so bogged down. I wondered how could one of the most tech-centered companies in the world not have an incredible mobile app, and I was definitely not alone.
While it is a notable improvement, the update isn’t just the typical bug fix though. It is a step towards the social network digging deeper into the mobile world. As most folks are transitioning their web usage from laptops to mobile phones and tablets, companies like Facebook and Google are adjusting their platforms to stay viable and profitable.
A New York Times article about the topic quotes the company’s vice president of engineering, Mike Schroepfer, as saying, “We have basically retooled and focused the company around mobile.” This shift includes Facebook integration with Apple’s upcoming iOS6 mobile operating system, which will allow users to post status updates through Siri and upload photos directly from their photostreams straight to Facebook.
There is also speculation that Facebook is developing its own mobile platform, but at this point it’s just speculation. With the company dependent on ad revenue, this might be a good way for them to combat the decreased screen size problem that mobile majority presents. The GPS / location features and constant accessibility of mobile phones allow for non-traditional ad types, not just smaller ads. Personally, I don’t know if I would want a Facebook phone, but the concept is definitely interesting. For now, I am just glad I can use my Facebook app without being disappointed with my user experience.