If you believe the rumors, Facebook is working on its own smartphone, and has been doing so for years. Some suspect the company is already recruiting hardware engineers for a mobile device launch by next year.

Although it’s still uncertain if and when we will see a Facebook phone hit the market, a concept posted on Yanko Design — and created by designer Michal Bonikowski — gives us an idea of what the device could potentially look like.




Featuring a sleek case in Facebook’s signature blue, the device is made from metal and touts a 4.2-inch screen. It also features a 5-megapixel camera in the front and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera. Bonikowski also included in his design a docking station to charge the device.



Although just a concept, Facebook Phone speculation is nothing new.

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Facebook was reportedly first working on a smartphone in 2010. Sources said the initiative stopped due to development complications. Meanwhile, AllThingsD reported Facebook and manufacturer HTC were working together to develop a mobile device under the code name “Buffy.”

The New York Times reported that engineers have been sought by recruiters to work on building hardware for the device. This would be the social network’s third attempt to develop a smartphone, the report said, citing sources close to the matter.



It’s believed that “Buffy” may still be in development. Hiring engineers to work specifically on building Facebook phones would position the company to explore other smartphone projects, as well.

What do you think of the concept’s design? Would you buy a Facebook smartphone?