Facebook has put long-time executive Andrew Bosworth in charge of all consumer hardware efforts as it readies a video calling device for release next spring, according to a new report in Business Insider.
Bosworth, who was most recently vice president of the company's ads and business platform, has worked at Facebook since 2006.
A close confidant of CEO Mark Zuckerberg, he has previously led efforts on other vital Facebook products, including the News Feed and mobile ads.
The report comes as Facebook tries to play catch-up with fellow tech giants Alphabet and Amazon, which have launched home-assistant devices that also allow voice calling, and Apple, which is reportedly readying something similar.
"Hardware has hardly been an area of strength for Facebook," says Scott Kessler, a financial analyst with the firm CFRA, who has a buy rating on its shares. "They are far behind" rivals, Kessler says.
The new hardware device, code-named 'Aloha,' will reportedly allow Facebook users to make video calls and use facial recognition. It's due out next spring, says the report.
Bosworth's new role will put him in charge of any hardware being built by Building 8, the company's skunkworks unit led by former Google executive Regina Dugan, and other consumer products including Oculus virtual reality gear.
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