Queen’s University School of Business professor John-Kurt Pliniussen is available to talk about Facebook’s press conference slated for today where the company will reportedly announce plans to move into the mobile market with its own branded smartphone.

“Over 700 million smartphones were shipped in 2012. Smartphones are now the world’s key computing and communicating device. Facebook wants a big piece of this because more users mean more of their time connected, which translates into billions of advertising and new revenue streams,” says Dr. Pliniussen, a marketing professor who specializes in technology and business innovation. “Currently Facebook is the top app for mobile time spent in North America with approximately 25 percent . Next is Apple iTunes with 9 percent. In other words, one quarter of all time net on mobile phones goes to Facebook. So if they can control the phone and the app markets … BOOM!”

Please note Dr. Pliniussen is only available for phone interviews.

To arrange an interview, please contact communication officers Michael Onesi at 613.533.6000 ext. 77513 or michael.onesi@queensu.ca or Anne Craig at 613-533-2877 or Anne.Craig@queensu.ca at Queen’s University News and Media Services Department in Kingston, Ont., Canada.

Follow Queen’s News and Media Services on Twitter: twitter.com/QueensuMedia

Attention broadcasters: Queen’s has facilities to provide broadcast quality audio and video feeds. For television interviews, we can provide a live, real-time double ender from Kingston via fibre optic cable. Please call for details.