Facebook presentation to reveal smartphone, incentives program and optimised iPad app?

by Steven Mostyn - Nov 1 2010, 11:49

Seems like early November is becoming something of a sweet spot for tech announcements these days.

Moreover, with Samsung and Google expected to unveil the Nexus Two smartphone during a November 8 presentation, this coming Wednesday morning will see social networking behemoth Facebook hosting a mystery media event of its own.

But what delights will Zuckerberg and company be peddling, we hear you ask? Well, it wouldn’t be a mystery if we were able to provide the answer to that particular question, but current chatter suggests the invitation-only “Mobile Event” may cover one (or maybe all) of several topics.

Possible aspects, some of which are likely to promote little more than disinterested shoulder shrugging from the mainstream, include:

A timely refresh to the Facebook Mobile website, which will include more of a focus on the recently launched Facebook Places mobile service.

This, in turn, may tie-in to the introduction of ‘Facebook Deals’, a social rewards initiative designed to work through Places to enable participating businesses to provide users with loyalty-based incentives.

“The deal involves rewarding a Facebook user with a free product when 3 of a user’s friends are tagged at a specific place [physical store],” outlines AllFacebook.com, adding that individual businesses “can determine the threshold required to earn a deal” and that the platform will rival the likes of Foursquare and Gowalla.

However, while the prospect of Facebook Deals may fail to light your candle, the Net’s more adventurous Facebook watchers believe Wednesday’s media event will see the unveiling of a Facebook smartphone built from the ground up to meet the demanding needs of social networking addicts everywhere.

Current speculation surrounding the device—which Facebook has denied is in development—include the adoption of Google’s Android operating system, contributing partnerships with INQ and AT&T, and even a holiday season 2010 launch window.

The only other viable event revelation currently being passed around is that Facebook will use the upcoming media spotlight to debut a new Facebook software application that’s been specifically optimised for use on Apple’s iPad tablet and its multi-touch 9.7-inch display screen.    

Come Wednesday, come the truth.

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