TWITTER see slideshow
- 10 ‘Net services that will:
- Succeed
- Trulia | SceneCaster | CafeScribe OverlayTV | Fav.or.it | Hulu
Huddle | Kaltura | ModiFace Cognitive Code
Service: Twitter
What it does: On-the-fly social networking, using texting, IM, or the Web.
Failings: There's no compelling reason for most people to use it, and many existing services -- ranging from AIM to FriendFeed to social networks -- have overlapping functionality. And how is it supposed to make money?
Turnaround potential: Twitter has a simple user interface, and there is a growing number of compelling third-party services that have been built off of Twitter. In addition, a clever name, upbeat publicity, and a small but loyal core of Twitter fanatics have helped build a recognizable brand in a hurry.
'Net Views:
Bits: "Openness is the right thing to do for users. It is what has helped Twitter grow to its current position of the darling of the geek world. But it undercuts Twitter's ability to create a huge business."
Management: CEO Jack Dorsey; co-founder Biz Stone (co-founded Xanaga); co-founder Evan Williams (co-founded Blogger).
Other related content:
- Slideshow home: Opinion: 10 'Net services that will succeed (and 10 that will probably fail)
- Ian Lamont: 10 'Net services that will succeed (and 10 that will probably fail)
- Prediction: eCirkit will shut down its social networking service by Jan. 1, 2009
- Prediction: Chumby Industries announces it will discontinue alarm clock line by February 1, 2009
- Prediction: Cognitive Code's Pocket SILVIA technology will appear in mass-market consumer electronics by end of 2008
- Prediction: Hulu will announce 200 full-length feature movies by May 15, 2008
- Prediction: Overlay.TV comes out of beta on or before June 30
- Prediction: CafeScribe acquired by October 2009
- Prediction: SceneCaster will come out of beta by June 1, 2008
- Prediction: Second Life usage will not break 40 million user hours per month by the end of 2008
- Prediction: Joost will announce a Web-based viewer by November 1, 2008
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Comments
No offense, but who cares if Twitter becomes a huge business.
As an infrequent user, I want to know Twitter can make enough profit to keep serving up Twitter to us infrequent geeks. But I agree, Twitter cannot grow audience until it proves the there there and third-party mashes are the key. Look what the NY Times is doing to save their classifieds from the craigslist effect and one can begin to imagine a world of Twitter usefulness beyond a far-flung game of text-message Marco-Polo.
eMongo
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