Facebook Acquires Drop.io, Might Release Phone?

Facebook seems to be the “app of the hour” lately as it becomes an ever larger and rapidly growing beast. Launching new features such as groups, downloading personal data and high resolution galleries, Facebook clearly isn’t sitting on their hands enjoying their success. What are they up to now? Acquiring data storage and sharing app Drop.io and holding a holding a “Mobile Event” this coming Wednesday.

What might Facebook be up to? How do you feel about their Drop.io acquisition? Read on for our thoughts and to share yours.

Facebook Acquires Drop.io

I’ve followed Drop.io since it first came out several years ago so I’ve had the privilege of watching it develop and mature into a powerful web app, capable of much more than just your average data storage and sharing needs. Awhile ago I reviewed Drop.io, Simple File Sharing and Collaboration with drop.io, and I’ve been a fan for some time now.

With Drop.io being the app I knew it to be, I’m a little surprised it’s been acquired by Facebook. Beyond that, however, I’m even more surprised it’s actually being completely shut down and rather quickly at that. As of yesterday, drops can no longer be created and current users have until December 15th to download their data, even for paid users. After that date, they say they’re deleting everyone’s data.

This seems like a pretty sudden change for Drop.io and I’m sure many people are asking why Facebook wants Drop.io or what they plan to do with the technology. It seems part of it simply has to do with acquiring Drop.io extraordinaire, Sam Lessin. The acquisition also, and as usual, begs the question, are web apps reliable?

Web App Reliability

These days we put a tremendous amount of trust and confidence in web apps. They help us do everything from socialize and communicate to share and store our vital information and data. Those who relied on Drop.io are likely scrambling now to find replacement apps. How much can we really trust web apps and their developers? How much should we trust them?

What do you think Facebook might do with Drop.io? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Facebook’s Mobile Event

This coming Wednesday Facebook will be holding a “Mobile Event” and rumors are that they’ve invited a significant number of Android related people. The rumor mill is churning and I’m hearing everything from a Facebook phone to a custom version of Android with heavy Facebook integration to some sort of integration of Facebook places with Android.

I see Facebook most likely working on integrating many aspects of the Facebook universe into the most popular and open mobile platform – Android. What do you think Facebook has in store for us?

Facebook’s Social Obsession – Dangerous?

Unlike Google, Facebook doesn’t appear to want to get their hands into every cookie jar possible. They do, however, have an unhealthy obsession with gathering and sharing people’s information, whether they like it or not. While Facebook has taken steps to subside the growing concerns people have for their privacy and data security, do we really want a phone with heavy Facebook integration?

Think about the possible privacy violations Facebook could commit were their applications directly and heavily integrated in your smartphone. Unfortunately, it’s likely that no matter how many times Facebook violates people’s privacy, people will still continue sharing every detail of their and their friends’ lives with the social network. Just remember, once you upload the information, Facebook owns it.

Are you concerned about a phone with potentially heavy Facebook integration? Do you think Facebook might abuse their access to information should they release some sort of “Facebook phone”? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Thanks!