Nokia to invest in and partner with Facebook?

Nokia, the mobile handset giant, is in talks with social network Facebook about a potential partnership and investment, according to paidContent. The deal, if it goes ahead, would see a mobile version of Facebook being "ported" to Nokia mobile phones in a "major way".

The Facebook placement could be as prominent as the YouTube button on the main screen of iPhone, our sources indicate. Also, the deal involves giving Facebook a major slot within Nokia retail products’ displays.

Nokia could also become the latest investor in Facebook, presumably as a way to solidify any partnership. With Nokia having a financial stake in the company, any partnership to promote Facebook through Nokia's chain would be that much stronger. This makes a lot of sense considering Facebook would be in some ways competing against Nokia's own web services, which include the mobile social network Mosh, as well as Twango, a media sharing offering. Having said that, in August of last year Nokia announced its "Ovi" web service, with the strapline "the key that unlocks every door", giving strong a hint that the new portal would eventually integrate third-party web services not just the company's own.