Vodafone has become the first mobile operator to sign on to the Facebook for Mobile Operators platform, a set of technical specs and services designed to help network operators more easily offer Facebook applications for mobile devices, rather than relying on accessing the site through traditional PCs or Web browsers embedded in mobile phones. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Facebook Mobile does not currently carry any advertising, and until now was available in an unsupported form. Under the new platform deal, Facebook Mobile will get full support from the company. As the platform expands, industry watchers anticipate both Facebook and mobile operators will look to monetize the services through targeted mobile advertising.
Vodafone has already started Facebook services in the U.K. and Germany, and plans to roll out support in Greece, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and Italy soon.
The Facebook for Mobile Platform includes information for provides on how to configure their systems to best interface with Facebook (avoiding annoying failures and lockouts when using the service), as well as enable users to send MMS messages with photos or video to their Facebook profiles. The specs also include information on how providers can help prevent spamming and other abuses of the Facebook service.
