The New York Times is reporting that Facebook is hiring Apple engineers to help build its smartphone.

"Employees of Facebook and several engineers who have been sought out by recruiters" with people briefed on Facebook’s plans suggesting that the company hopes to release its own smartphone by next year.

"The company has already hired more than half a dozen former Apple software and hardware engineers who worked on the iPhone, and one who worked on the iPad, the employees and those briefed on the plans said" they reported.

Twitter users have criticised Facebook's decision to enter the smartphone market.