Reading a blog post passed along by Robert Scoble on Twitter related to a possible Facebook announcement tomorrow, Jason Winer coined Twitter as a "dial tone". For me at least, this sums up the microblogging tool/community/team well. I have struggled to predict how Twitter will evolve and grow. I am continually impressed at how the Twitter team has opened up itself to developers.
"Twitter is a Dial Tone"
A dial tone is essentially a signal that demonstrates the infrastructure is there for you. Sounds like Twitter. Most people using Twitter use some other software over the Twitter homepage. Twitter is microblogging for most intensive purposes. They essentially have the backbone to the microblogging world at the moment. Yes, a few blue whales tell you the dial tone is not quite perfected yet, but you must admit it is pretty impressive that a start up has created such a major buzz that is tipping towards cult icon status. If you are not hip without being on Twitter in the same way suburban kids buy skateboards and BMX bikes with no idea what they are used to do by true skaters and bikers.
Facebook appears to be facing some serious pressure to incorporate a better microblogging capability. There were the reported talks for Facebook to buy Twitter unsuccessfully. There are plenty of other rumors you can imagine about others trying to the same.
So what does Twitter have that Facebook does not? Think of Twitter as a public telephone line, one that you can look up in a phone book (yes, remember those old yellow books that show up once a year) or Verizon website. Facebook is like an unlisted number that has some security cracks in it to sort of allow you to get a phone number if you ask nice enough. This is where the leverage seems to exist for Twitter. They opened themselves up like a streaker in a public park while Facebook is may show you some ankle skin if you can convince them you once met somewhere along your life's journey.
Stay tuned to the public back and forth that will certainly take place.
Thanks Jason and Robert for sharing these ideas. Thanks to TWN and Flickr for the image. Find more from TWN at Flickr.
