Facebook phone set for April 4 launch?

Is Facebook finally releasing its Facebook phone?

Rumors of a Facebook smartphone have been doing rounds from over a year and even Facebook has denied attempting to launch its own hardware. But Facebook fueled fresh talk Friday about its own mobile phone after the leading social network scheduled a press announcement for next week.

ALSO READ: Facebook to show off new Android-based product soon

Though the FB's invitation for April 4 only says "Come See Our New Home On Android",  technology news site TechCrunch reported the announcement would be a modified version of the Google Android operating system with "deep native Facebook functionality."

Another report on "9 to 5 Google" said Facebook designing the software for the new smartphone, which would be made by Taiwan's HTC.