Los Angeles — Just early this month being updated to version 3.4 — adding the Unfriending option — Facebook for iPhone has been revised once again, this time with a minor version number for iPhone 3.4.1 and Facebook for Android 1.5.3 released this week, both now allows users to “Find Friends” from their device’s contacts list and send them friend requests or invites to the site.
The newly released version delivers two new features: The most important is that Facebook has added the “Find Friends” feature to both apps, allowing users to search through their device’s contacts and the prompt for adding your phone (number) to your profile so that your friends can call you.
Facebook’s Find Friends feature has been an essential part of the website’s home page for years and has always been increasing the number of connections on the social media network, gaining more users in total, and (thus) generating more traffic for the site. So, when users import their contacts from their email provider, they are shown a list of non-friends they can send requests or invites to join Facebook to.
Furthermore, users can access Find Friends in Facebook for iPhone by clicking the Friends icon on the home screen, and then the arrow button in the top right corner. The app will then scan the device’s contacts list for phone numbers and email addresses that match other Facebook users who can be sent friend requests “Add” buttons next to each and an “Add All” button at the top. Then the flow reveals the device’s contacts that are not associated with a Facebook account that can similarly be sent invites to the site individually or all at once.
Here is the official changelog for Facebook for iPhone 3.4.1:
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Find your Friends on Facebook using your phone
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Add your phone to your profile
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Bug fixes
Here is the official changelog for Facebook for Android 1.5.3:
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Added the ability to tag friends in status updates
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Added Find Friends feature
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Added the ability to add your phone number to your profile
Also, further simplifying the task for its user, the above prompt appears for those who have not added their number via the web interface. The prompt explains “When your number is on your profile, friends can use Facebook to call you. Only friends will see it.”
Nevertheless, by encouraging users to add their phone numbers, Facebook is looking to become a sort of cloud-phonebook. Being able to look up a Facebook friend’s number online or use the instant call or sms functions on the mobile apps significantly increases Facebook’s utility, and therefore engagement. The prompt’s language is designed to calm fears about privacy and make it seem natural and helpful to add one’s number.