Facebook plan Android-based phone release

Social networking giant Facebook has reportedly teamed up with mobile manufacturer INQ to release an Android-based phone that will hit European shelves in 2011.

Bloomberg reports three sources have confirmed the project and that Facebook is looking to develop a type of phone, but not a separate operating system.

“While we can’t speak for their future product development plans, we can say that our view is that almost all experiences would be better if they were social,” a spokesperson told Information Week.

“Mobile integrations that we are currently working on include everything from an HTML5 version of the site to apps on major platforms to full Connect support with SDKs to deeper integrations with some manufacturers, like INQ.”