The blogosphere is normally abuzz with stories about Facebook that demonstrate negative sentiment towards their activities. Most of their moves are scrutinized and the company is often targeted for its activities, failures, and missteps. Facebook Home, the app that was supposed to be the “next version of Facebook” according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has been so underwhelming with its numbers that most bloggers started ignoring it shortly after its launch.
This could all change once it’s allowed to be released to a wider audience. Currently, it’s only available on the HTC One X, HTC One X+, Samsung Galaxy S III and Samsung Galaxy Note II and is preloaded on the HTC First. However, it has yet to breach the 1 million downloads mark which means that it’s being used by less than 1/10th of a percent of its user base. Keep in mind that there are over 50 million Galaxy S3’s in the world right now.
According to Techcrunch:
The data shows it’s been a struggle so far, in terms of user acquisition, for Facebook Home. The lack of support for widgets, docks, and app folders seems to be the central barrier to downloads, active use, and recommendations.
Right now, it’s clear that the app is a bust. While there’s a chance that it could get better once it’s available on more devices, the adoption rate for an app that increases user time spent on Facebook by 25% should have the company concerned. Was it a mistake to release it to such a small number of people? If sales of the first Facebook Home preloaded device is any indication, the answer is yes. AT&T just slashed prices on the HTC First from $99 to $.99.
