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Facebook finally launching app for Apple's iPad

June 17, 2011 — 9:04am ET | By Jason Ankeny

Facebook is poised to introduce a social networking application optimized for Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad, more than 12 months after the tablet first hit retail. Citing sources briefed on Facebook's plans, The New York Times reports the free iPad app has been in production for over a year, evolving through a series of design iterations. People who have seen the app say its user experience is tailored for the iPad's touchscreen interface, with revamped Facebook Chat and Facebook Groups features. Facebook also will unveil new full-screen photo and video-sharing tools.

Sources indicate that Facebook also plans to retool its mobile website to accommodate the iPad form factor--one person said the site is not intended to compete with Facebook's iPhone and iPad apps, but it will "supplement these experiences." Earlier this week, TechCrunch reported that Facebook is developing an HTML5-based mobile platform optimized for the iPhone and iPad designed to circumvent the App Store distribution channel, giving Facebook far greater control over the user experience as well as premium app downloads and in-app transactions.

Facebook declined to discuss future products, with a spokesperson saying "We have a great relationship with Apple that is exemplified by our iPhone application, but with regards to an iPad application we have nothing to announce now, and cannot comment on future Facebook products." Apple declined to comment.

Apple has sold more than 25 million iPad units since introducing the device in April 2010. During that time, Facebook users have consistently bemoaned the absence of a web interface developed for touchscreen-based devices. Third-party developers have stepped in to fill the void, rolling out Facebook-themed iPad apps including MyPad, iFace and Facetab.

Facebook now boasts almost 700 million users worldwide, with more than 250 million consumers actively using Facebook's mobile products across all platforms, up from only 65 million a year ago. According to Nielsen Company data published last year, Facebook is also the most popular app on Apple's iOS platform, with 50 percent of users accessing the solution within the last 30 days.

At the same time, there are some indications that Facebook's growth is slowing, at least in developed markets. Earlier this week, Inside Facebook reported that Facebook user growth slowed to 1.7 percent in May 2011. Over the last year, Facebook has added an average of 20 million new users each month, but the social media platform welcomed only 11.8 million new additions last month, down from 13.9 million in April. The U.S. had 149.4 million active Facebook users at the end of May compared to 155.2 million at the beginning of the month, its first decline in the last year.

For more:
- read this New York Times article