HispanicBusiness

Is Facebook working on a Want button?

Facebook is expected to release its first earnings numbers Thursday, and according to reports the social network is trying to develop features to boost ad revenue and to enhance its service on mobile devices.

A Want button is not yet public, but, the Los Angeles Times reported that the feature was uncovered by a developer, Tom Waddington, who saw it in some of Facebook's internal coding.

It is not clear what it would do exactly, but the Times report said it looks like Facebook's Like button, with blue wording in light blue bubble.

Analysts are divided on whether Facebook will succeed.

The share price has come down from an initial offer of $38 to about $28.

And advertising on mobile devices is a challenge for Facebook. Nearly half of the social network's users log in on tablets or phones. Facebook is working on a new iPhone app that will be quicker, according to reports.

Developers have created Want buttons for Facebook with third-party apps, but, according to Inside Facebook, this development would allow users to access the button without an app.

What would be the benefit to Facebook?

It could be a way for e-commerce and other sites to use this feature as a plug-in without building their own app. And the company would be able to collect users data so advertisers can pay the social network to target customers.

And Facebook wants that.