Makes it easier to link to apps, App Store

Facebook's native iOS client app controls are being reworked to allow developers of iOS apps more options on ways to link "click points" in Facebook back to either their own iOS app, the App Store page for the app, or an intermediate web page that asks the user if they'd prefer the "mobile" or "full" version of the web page. In addition, links can now take users to specific sub-pages of a site rather than the opening page.

Facebook calls the additional connections "iOS native deep linking" and cites as an example a news item linked in a developer's news feed. When a iOS Facebook user clicks the link, it will directly open the app (or take the user to the app's page in the App Store if the user doesn't already have the app installed). A users' click on a link in a news feed will enable the same result in native apps for Android and iOS as it would when accessing Facebook through a web browser on Android or iOS, or a desktop browser for that matter.

The social networking giant says the controls are more "granular" than before and will help drive traffic to apps, web pages and the App Store as desired from requests, bookmarks, search results and more. For users, clicking on a link in a status message or elsewhere will more seamlessly launch the app or web page inside Facebook or outside of it as desired, making it effortless to move between the two services.

by MacNN Staff