Launched in July 2006, Twitter is social networking and micro-blogging site that allows users to post their latest updates. An update is limited by 140 characters and can be posted through three methods: web form, text message, or instant message. The company has been busy adding features to the product like Gmail import and search. They recently launched a new site section called “Explore” for external and third party tools that interact with Twitter and a new visualization tool called Twitter Blocks.

The service was started by Obvious Corp, who also started Odeo.

In April 2008 Twitter launched Twitter Japan in partnership with Digital Garage.

Milestones

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6/23/08 — Hires Rudy Winnacker and John Adams, two new Operation Engineers 6/9/08 — Survives iPhone 3G Stevenote 6/9/08 — Twitter partners with Summize to cover Apple news. 5/28/08 — Launches a status blog to communicate to users better about issues with the service. 5/7/08 — Twitter Starts Blacklisting Spammers 4/24/08 — VP Lee Mighdoll Leaves Twitter 4/23/08 — Chief Architect Blaine Cook Leaves Twitter 4/22/08 — Twitter Japan Launches 4/16/08 — Twitter helps bust American man out of Egyptian jail 7/15/06 — Twitter Launches

Products

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Twitter

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Website twitter.com

Blog twitter.com/blog

Stage Live

Launch Date March 1, 2006

Tags twitter, communication, text, messages

Twitter allows users to post text updates via SMS, instant messaging, email, Twitter’s website and third party applications. Users have their own profile page that displays their latest updates. In addition, users can become “friends” with one another, or simply be a “follower.” Other than reading another person’s profile page, a user can also receive others’ updates through text messages, RSS or third party applications.

Twitter itself is a free service, though users may have to pay text messaging charges to the phone carriers.

Above: Twitter Screenshot -- #1

Above: Twitter Screenshot -- #2

Twitter Blocks

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Website twitter.com

Blog blog.twitter.com

Tags socialnetworking

Twitter Blocks is a real-time visualization tool for recent updates from a user’s friends and their friends’ network of friends (and their friends’ friends’ network of friends, etc.).

Above: Twitter Blocks Screenshot -- #1

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Comments

bobbiedawn - July 23, 2008 at 11:52am

DELL--I am unable to register my extended warrentee

Bobbiedawn - July 23, 2008 at 11:51am

Can't get on twitter-registered now told my email is taken. HELP!!!

Tony Kuhl - July 22, 2008 at 2:29pm

I bought a stereo from these people they shipped a different name brand I shipped it back for a refund, still no refund since Oct. They will not let you talk to a manager

Chris Marshall - July 6, 2008 at 4:40pm

Biz Stone recently indicated that 'commercial accounts' was one idea that may fund Twitter in the future.

someguy - June 26, 2008 at 9:33pm

they don't have plans for revenue generation yet. they tried ads on japanese twitter.

Fred Campbell - June 12, 2008 at 9:26am

I think it's a great idea. Blogging is huge, Facebook is enormous - but they have a real unique appeal with this. Everyone likes to broadcast, but many don't have the time - I think their business model is 'the lazy person's blog.' The lazy way always wins.

kk - June 8, 2008 at 7:26pm

they probably r just waiting for the right time.

Sean Harry - May 13, 2008 at 3:01pm

So how do they make money???

Charlie Salem - April 11, 2008 at 2:54am

Could someone PLEASE tell me what their bussness model is. Maybe i'm stupid but i just don't understand Are theey do a skype and / or marking up on the sms message costs to opertors in return for driving draffic OR just buying a bult number of mails and running themselves as a micro opperator? Please send any thought dorectly to me at charlie12@totalise.co.uk and relieve me of these sleepless agony!!!! Have a nice weekend. By the way - CRUNCHBASE RULES!!!! it's a brilliant site / service C

Pieter - March 17, 2008 at 1:50pm

What is their business model anyway? They don't display ads on their site...

Luixx - January 3, 2008 at 1:36am

with so much noise about instant messaging this business model will be expanding in the coming months. If Google adquired Jaiku it must worth it!

thaumata - November 5, 2007 at 1:07am

After being dragged to twitter by friends, I have to say that while the concept is good (nice to be able to SMS internet friends without giving out your mobile number) the performance is DISMAL. I get an error about every three page views and frequently get my tweets three hours late. When someone makes a more reliable product, twitter will probably lose people in droves. I know many already going over to pownce and jaiku for this reason alone.

Evorgleb - October 10, 2007 at 2:05pm

Great service for updating a user's status or "mini-blogging". However I question how much inovation can be done in the area.