Facebook and BlackBerry have reached a compromise: BlackBerry users will still be able to access Facebook on their smartphones after all. It's just that it's probably not the way the users want to access the social network.
The bad news is that the native Facebook app for BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10 is still being removed on March 31. The good news is that users will be able to log into their Facebook account and browse their News Feeds via a new Web-based app.
Now live, BlackBerry's Web version of Facebook allows its customers to get the same features we all know and love, such as the News Feed and the ability to write statuses, like statuses, upload photos and check-in, but the experience is just a bit different.
"... [W]e have worked hard with Facebook to address some technical challenges and the best solution was to move forward with a Web-based app," BlackBerry writes in a blog post announcing the Facebook support.
Users could already access Facebook on their BlackBerry devices via the Web, but now, it has received an update that includes additional features as it prepares to replace the native app.
With this update, all features that are available on Facebook's website are now featured on BlackBerry devices. This includes the ability to reply to comments, as well as see replies to comments. Every single post will now load, so users won't ever see "News feed could not be retrieved" ever again.
Of course, those who still want to be able to access the native Facebook app and are loyal to the BlackBerry brand can always upgrade to the PRIV. The BlackBerry PRIV runs on Android, meaning the native social media app will still be available for it.
Facebook previously announced this month that it was dropping support for its native apps (including Facebook Messenger) for BlackBerry's operating system. This, Facebook stated, is because the OS doesn't provide the capabilities it needs to be able to update and expand its app's features down the line.
The Facebook-owned messaging app WhatsApp also announced it was ending BlackBerry support. BlackBerry issued a statement saying that it tried to have the companies change their minds, but it was ultimately the final decision. At least Facebook is back in some form.
Don't forget that BBOS and BlackBerry 10 is moving away from Facebook's native app and transitioning to the Web-based Facebook experience on March 31. Users will need to update their BBOS or BlackBerry 10 devices in order to be able to continue to access Facebook via its new Web-based app.
Source: BlackBerry
Photo: Maurizio Pesce | Flickr
