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Facebook throws BlackBerry an HTML bone

Native apps are soooooo 2015, says BlackBerry, and web apps are the new black

Facebook isn't abandoning BlackBerry after all, throwing the ailing mobility outfit a bone in the form of a web application.

The Social NetworkT recently gave up on native app support for BlackBerry, a fair enough decision given its handset market share is now hidden somewhere in market-watchers' “Other” column. The symbolism of Facebook's decision was hard to miss: deciding not to support BlackBerry indicated Facebook just doesn't think it is worth spending any time or effort will result in a useful data harvest.

Many observers, El Reg included, concluded that Facebook's decision was yet another nail in BlackBerry's already-very-securely-fastened coffin.

But the two companies have reached an arrangement of some sort as BlackBerry is now proudly pointing out that Facebook hasn't entirely forsaken it. The Zuck Squad's reportedly dug deep and produced a web application for BlackBerry.

Just how the web app differs from visiting Facebook's mobile site isn't explained, but BlackBerry insists offers some features the native app didn't include. Like the ability to reply to comments.

Revolutionary, we know. But if it keeps a few buyers from moving to other platforms, it might just keep BlackBerry's hardware business alive for another year. ®

BlackBerry's facebook web app

The Facebook-on-BlackBerry web app. So much better than the native app.

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