Unnamed sources tell TechCrunch that Facebook is working on a mobile platform aimed at breaking Apple’s stranglehold on app distribution for the iPhone and iPad. “Project Spartan” would support HTML5-based apps accessed through mobile Safari.
Reportedly, Facebook is working with approximately 80 outside developers on apps, including some from well-known companies like Zynga and Huffington Post. The sources say the project has been in the works for a couple of months and should be ready for launch within a few weeks.