At the All Things Digital D10 conference, Apple's CEO - Tim Cook - said on its relationship with Facebook to "stay tuned" amid questions on why the company only integrates Twitter into its mobile operating system. Now, rumors suggest the company will be bringing Facebook to iOS 6.
The news comes from TechCrunch - the Web site said Facebook isn't replacing Twitter, and developer sessions will be held at WWDC from June 11 on the ongoing social network integration which debuted in iOS 5. iOS users can currently tweet and share photos within apps.
"This is a huge win for Facebook, which until now has relied on the sort of clunky Single Sign On technique in iOS where you click a connect button in an app and get fast-app-switched to the Facebook app to authorize permission," TechCrunch said. Facebook integration would mean a quicker process for updating statuses and sharing photos, like Twitter.
TechCrunch's sources didn't guarantee the integration will happen between now and WWDC, but said it was likely. Its sources added the two parties are still working out how sharing will work; unlike Twitter, Facebook users can configure permissions for what content can be shared and seen. On Twitter, users either do or don't share a tweet.
"My guess is that Apple will keep things simple with at least the initial Facebook / iOS integration. Beyond authentication, there will probably be a Facebook button in the existing share screen which will allow you to share something to your Facebook Wall," the Web site's MG Siegler added.
While the service could be unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 11, Apple doesn't release versions of iOS widely at the event. The Developer Preview, and its many updates, will probably build up to the launch of the iPhone 5 around fall.
Outside of a Google Maps competitor, features for iOS 6 are unknown. Some users have requested a revamp of the OS, which has used the grid-based app layout Apple debuted the iPhone in 2007.
TechCrunch also said Facebook integration won't be coming to OS X Mountain Lion for now, and there definitely won't be Google Plus-iOS integration.
WWDC begins June 11, with Apple's conference starting at 10AM PDT.
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