Facebook Urges Staff to Switch From iPhone to Android
Social network looking to improve Facebook experience on the smartphone platform that has the largest market share.

Facebook is plastering posters around its headquarters to encourage employees to get rid of their iPhones in favor of Google-powered Android smartphones. According to a TechCrunch report, posters encouraging employees to "switch today" have started to appear on the walls at the social network giant's Mountain View, California offices.
Facebook had previously offered its employees iPhones, but the aim in the switch to Google's mobile platform is apparently due to improved functionality for the Facebook app. The application present on Apple's smartphone has been criticized for being slow, draining battery life and not offering useful features. Thus, employees are being encouraged to use their own devices in order to improve the Facebook experience on the smartphone OS with the largest marketshare (Android currently dominates the market with a 72.4 percent share, while iOS decreased its hold on the market with a 13.9 share).
One of the posters in question features a graph depicting IDC data that forecasts Android will control around twice as much of the smartphone market as the iPhone come 2016. The posters encouraged employees to contact Facebook's help desk to have their device switched from iPhone to Android.
Back in August, reports emerged that said Facebook employees were being "nudged, cajoled, and even ordered to give up their iPhones for Android devices." When asked about the posters, a Facebook spokesperson stressed: "We don't encourage one device over another. We let employees choose."
During its announcement that Facebook boasts over a billion members, the company also confirmed it has over 600 million mobile users.
1. The Samsung S3 or Nexus 4 are not a night and day difference from the Iphone. All have an Easy to use Interface, a solid camera, tons of apps, and great coverage.
2. I have an Ipad, AppleTV, and a Macbook air that work Seamlessly together with the Iphone. I do not know of any Andriod based system that Unifies all devices like Apple does. Even if I got the S3, Galaxy Tab, HTPC, and a new laptop. I would have to spend many hours getting them to work even a fraction as well. With Apple I just have to sign in to iCloud.
3. Apps, Videos, and Music. Over the last 4 years I have had a Iphone I have purchased several Hundred Dollars worth of these items. If I switch, I have to start over again.
They're doing this because the mobile market is quickly becoming the highest consumer of internet bandwidth, the majority of which is taking place on Android devices. And let's face it, Android Facebook sucks. Crashes all the time, pretty poor performance. If Facebook doesn't want to start losing market share to the smoother Android experience that is Google+, they'll have to improve their single app. It's really a no brainer on their part. It's not like they can spontaneously whip up their own competing mobile OS to take on Android directly, so they might as well compete with G+ on Android. Same as Google still making apps to put on iOS.
clearly you havnt seen it recently...
So true. The FB app hangs all the time, double posts, opens to random pages, etc. It's really bad and if FB can get it sorted I might be arsed to actually use it (instead of just opening the page in a browser).
G+ has never been relevant
Clever way to say something idiotic.
How does a line chart showing iPhone gaining market share remind you of anything falling? It may not being going up as fast as Android, but it's still a projection of growth.
If you have difficulty telling up from down, perhaps a visit to the opthamologist is in order.
I think there is something else behind this FB "push" other than
"...but the aim in the switch to Google's mobile platform is apparently due to improved functionality for the Facebook app"
Having employees switch their phones seems more like a "diss" to Apple...for whatever reason.
I just don't believe the "to improve functionality" reason.