Today, Facebook announced Home, a new launcher that integrates Facebook deeply into Android and turns your phone into a “social” device. Home launcher for Android will be made available on Google Play Store starting April 12.
One of the main features of Home is the Facebook Cover Feed, which features newly updated stories and photos from your Facebook friends. You can view notifications, post comments, like and share posts, and so on. In other words, it is a Facebook hub, with which you get to play with every feature that you see on the desktop version.
In the last few months, Facebook has been focusing more on mobile and has been trying to figure out a strong strategy to monetize apps and other services offered on mobile devices. With today’s announcement, the question strikes whether the new Facebook Home launcher will have ads or not?
At the event, CEO Mark Zuckerberg indicated that ads will be a part the launcher at some point. He is quoted as saying, “There are no ads in this yet. I’m sure at some point there will be.”
Zuckerberg responded more directly to a further question: “Yup!” he said when asked again whether people might see ads in cover feed. So it looks like Facebook has come up with a strategy and a platform on mobile through which it can generate some revenue.
However, putting ads in the Cover Feeds doesn’t mean that you would see the usual ads that you see in the desktop version. It means that you’ll be seeing promotions and sponsored stores just like how they’re on the Facebook for Android app. However, putting ads in Cover Feed means you’d see these promotions and sponsored stores directly on your phone’s home screen and lock screen, and I’m very skeptical that users will be accepting this.
What do you think of it? Let us know by posting your comments below.
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