Facebook iPad app debut seen with iPhone 5

Facebook Inc. will reportedly finally produce its app for the iPad, along with an updated one for the iPhone when Apple Inc. takes the wraps off its new smartphone on Oct. 4.

Mashable cited unnamed sources who said the long-awaited Facebook app was supposed to be integrated in Apple's iOS mobile software years ago but friction between the companies stalled the plan.

Apple instead has integrated Twitter into iOS 5, letting users sign in to their Twitter accounts once and tweet with a single tap from Apple’s applications and third-party applications that support the single sign-on ability.

The new Facebook app for the iPhone is expected to bring design and speed improvements like those on the iPad app.

Former Facebook engineer Jeff Verkoeyen wrote in a blog post on Monday that he left the Palo Alto company to take a job at Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) partially because Facebook had sat on the completed iPad app since May.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is expected to unveil its iPhone 5 next week at its Cupertino headquarters, CEO Tim Cook's first major product debut since taking over from Chairman Steve Jobs.