In any skirmish, the ability to pick the field of battle is perceived as a major advantage, with one party able to choose the terrain that best suits their skill set.
The suggestion that Facebook is about to take on Apple on iOS, then, is as intriguing as it is potentially risky for the social network.
Yet TechCrunch reports Facebook is in the process of working on a marketplace that bypasses Apple's own App Store, handing the company a role in the platform's ecosystem.
App attack
Dubbed Project Spartan, the new venture is set to be delivered via HTML5 and served up on iPhone and iPad's Safari browser.
Up to 80 developers are said to be involved - including major names such as Zynga - with apps ready to be served up at an official unveiling within weeks.
But, though Facebook is yet to offer any official comment on Spartan, TechCrunch writer MG Siegler claims to have seen the platform in action.
Meddling with marketplaces
"Imagine loading up the mobile web version of Facebook and finding a drop-down for a new type of app," Siegler summarises.
"Clicking on one of the apps loads it and immediately a Facebook wrapper is brought in to surround the app. This wrapper will give the app some basic Facebook functionality, as well as the ability to use key Facebook elements like Credits."
Facebook Credits, Siegler reports, will be used to sell the apps themselves, as well as the in-app purchases included within.
It's believed Project Spartan will initially roll out on Safari for iOS, though Android will join the party soon after.
[source: TechCrunch]
News
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Top Stories
Feature
50 minutes ago
Mobile Mavens: What do developers think of the Epic Games Store coming to mobile?
Feature
Mar 25th, 2024
5 takeaways from GDC 2024: The games industry reckons with key challenges, Godot competes with Unity, and AI was the big trend without the big announcements
Events
Mobidictum Network Lisbon April 2024 | Europe | Apr 16th |
HIT Games Conference Istanbul 2024 | Apr 18th | |
App Promotion Summit London | Europe | Apr 25th |
Dubai GameExpo Summit 2024 | Middle East | May 1st |
Mobidictum Meetup Berlin May 2024 | Europe | May 7th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Israel Mobile Summit 2024 | Middle East | Jun 6th |
Mobidictum Meetup Barcelona September 2024 | Europe | Sep 1st |
Popular Stories
Feature
Mar 25th, 2024