Apple’s Tim Cook: Facebook Is Our Friend, We Could Do More Together

It looks like Apple doesn’t only have eyes for Twitter.

During today’s shareholders meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook called Facebook a “friend” and suggested that the two companies could partner more in the future.

CNBC live-blogged the meeting, and that coverage includes this exchange between Cook and a shareholder:

Shareholder: “Question on Facebook, friend or foe — and where does social networking into the picture. Also: I just bought a big LG TV and have 60 days to return it. Should I return it?”

Cook: “Facebook: friend. We do a lot with them, our users use Facebook an enormous amount. … I’ve always thought that the two companies could do more together.” … “We’ve integrated Twitter … It’s been great for Twitter, but it’s been great for our users” …. iMessage “the volume is incredible.”

Cook: “Obviously, I’m not going to comment on your second question (TV).”

Though the first iPad was released in April 2010, and iPad 2 came out in March 2011, Facebook didn’t have an official iPad app until this past October (2011). It was widely seen as the biggest hole in the iPad’s app lineup. At the time, Facebook CTO Bret Taylor told the NY Times that the app was delayed because “it wasn’t ready” and said that the company “felt that the Facebook website on the iPad was a really good experience.”

Meanwhile, when Apple announced iOS5 last summer, it said Twitter would be built-in to the operating system, making it easy for a variety of apps to add Twitter functionality. In December, Twitter revealed that the iOS integration had increased monthly signups by 25 percent.

But Facebook is still the 800-lb. gorilla of social networks and it makes sense for Apple to want to work more closely with its users, too.

(tip via The Next Web)