Apple to include Facebook integration in iOS 6

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook hinted this past week during his interview at D10 that we could expect closer ties with Facebook and to “stay tuned” when asked about Twitter-like integration in iOS. Now, according to a report from TechCrunch, the much-anticipated integration of Facebook will happen in “the latest version of iOS.” There are not many details provided by the report, but it did note Apple is still trying to decide “exactly how sharing will work” and that things could change before iOS 6 is unveiled:

After much speculation, Facebook integration will indeed be baked into the latest version of iOS, we’ve learned…It’s important to note that Apple being Apple, something could change in the next week and a half (see again: Facebook/Ping). But as of now, Facebook is a go in iOS “Sundance”. One thing still being hammered out according to our sources is exactly how sharing will work. Sharing is the other big part of the iOS/Twitter integration, and will be important for iOS/Facebook integration as well.

As we noted before, iOS 4 betas contained evidence of Facebook integration. However, the features were removed before its final release. There are no details on exactly how Apple plans to integrate Facebook from the TechCrunch report. Nevertheless, the iOS 4 betas provided evidence that Apple was planning to include Facebook sharing features for photos and videos directly from the iOS photo app. There were also other features rumored in the past, such as contact syncing with the iPhone’s phone app and integration with Facebook messaging.

Separately, we heard that iTunes would have extra Facebook integration.

In May, The New York Timesreported that Facebook was hiring Apple iPhone hardware and software engineers to build its own phone. Perhaps some of that talent has gone toward iOS integration. We will have to wait until WWDC later this month to find out exactly what Apple has planned.

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