Facebook's iPhone application is one of the most popular programs in Apple's App Store. But if recent rumors are true, some of that app's functionality could be available to iPhone owners out of the box when the hardware company releases iPhone OS 4.0 later this year.
According to a report from Gunning for Safety, the safety blog has discovered evidence in the developer preview of iPhone OS 4.0 that Facebook friends and events could be integrated into the new software.
“It looks like Apple plans to implement Facebooks Events into the iPhones Calendar app, as well as add Facebooks friends network to the iPhones contacts database," the blog wrote.
Rumors are already swirling over how Apple plans to integrate Facebook's information into the iPhone. But if Gunning for Safety's accounts are accurate, the company could make it easy for Facebook users to add events from the social network to their iPhone calendars. Users might also be able to bolster their contact lists with friends.
That said, it's important to note that Gunning for Safety's findings don't necessarily mean that Facebook integration is coming to the iPhone; neither company has confirmed such features. In an e-mailed statement, Facebook said only that the upcoming version of its iPhone app will deliver new features; it wouldn't confirm or deny that Facebook will be integrated into the iPhone.
“We continue to work on bringing new features to Facebook for iPhone," a Facebook spokeswoman wrote. “We're really excited about the upcoming version of the Facebook for iPhone app and we think people will be happy with it, but we don't pre-announce products or when they will be released."
Apple did not immediately respond to request for comment.
According to a report from Gunning for Safety, the safety blog has discovered evidence in the developer preview of iPhone OS 4.0 that Facebook friends and events could be integrated into the new software.
“It looks like Apple plans to implement Facebooks Events into the iPhones Calendar app, as well as add Facebooks friends network to the iPhones contacts database," the blog wrote.
Rumors are already swirling over how Apple plans to integrate Facebook's information into the iPhone. But if Gunning for Safety's accounts are accurate, the company could make it easy for Facebook users to add events from the social network to their iPhone calendars. Users might also be able to bolster their contact lists with friends.
That said, it's important to note that Gunning for Safety's findings don't necessarily mean that Facebook integration is coming to the iPhone; neither company has confirmed such features. In an e-mailed statement, Facebook said only that the upcoming version of its iPhone app will deliver new features; it wouldn't confirm or deny that Facebook will be integrated into the iPhone.
“We continue to work on bringing new features to Facebook for iPhone," a Facebook spokeswoman wrote. “We're really excited about the upcoming version of the Facebook for iPhone app and we think people will be happy with it, but we don't pre-announce products or when they will be released."
Apple did not immediately respond to request for comment.
