Facebook is rumored to be working on a new reader service that is internally known simply as Reader. The service displays content in a format geared towards mobile usage and draws data from Facebook users and publishers. The application is said to closely resemble Flipboard in terms of interface.
Facebook’s Zuckerberg had previously announced that he wanted to create the “definitive professional publishing platform.” While Facebook has witnessed a growth in the number of users accessing the service via mobile phones, the amount of time spent is brief and limited to just a few moments. By providing a more immersive experience, it could open up new revenue models for the company. Zuckerberg is said be taking a keen interest in the project that is being aimed at iOS devices. If rumors are to be believed then the application will be available for both smartphone and tablet platforms at launch. Apple veteran, Michael Matas, is said to be the lead designer of the project. With the social reading segment heating up and LinkedIn’s recent acquisition of Pulse for 90 million dollars, the market is ripe for disruption. Will Facebook be the one to make it big ?
[Via – Wall Street Journal]