Apple in talks with Facebook over new iPhone software, Home

Facebook Inc (FB) is in talks with Apple Inc about crafting a version of its new mobile software for the iPhone, as it seeks to boost revenue from the growing number of users who access the social network on smaller screens.

The social network debuted the software called Home for Google Inc's Android operating system earlier this month, and is now talking with Apple and Microsoft Corp about expansion to other platforms, according to Adam Mosseri, director of product at Menlo Park, California-based Facebook, who spoke to Bloomberg West yesterday. He added, the talks were in progress and nothing had been finalised.

With the majority of users now accessing Facebook via mobile devices, chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg was looking at ways to keep them engaged longer in a bid to have more advertisers pay to place promotions.

According to Gartner Inc, while Google's Android software powered about 70 per cent of smartphones worldwide last year, Apple's iOS system commanded around 21 per cent.

referring to discussion with Apple and Microsoft, Mosseri added Facebook had shown what it had built and was in just an ongoing conversation.

Zuckerberg said while introducing the Home software earlier this month, that already Facebook and Apple had a ''great relationship.''

Facebook Home will be available for popular devices and on the new HTC First.

Meanwhile, Facebook Home became available to British Android users after its launch last evening. The free software is designed for conversion of Android handsets into ''Facebook phones'', with a Facebook home screen and prominent roles for Facebook's communication features including instant messaging and free voice calls.

The social network did not need Google's approval or cooperation to build Facebook Home due to rules that do not restrict developers.

According to Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt it would be "counter to our public statements, our religion" to restrict the software, even though it effectively took over Android devices for the benefit of Facebook.

Apple's iOS was much more restricted, though and Mosseri said on iPhone devices the Home software would be tailored to what Apple preferred and it could look much different than the Android version.

He added it may or may not be Home, and Facebook could also just bring some of the design values to the iOS app or Facebook could build just the lock screen under another name.