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{{Infobox Website
twitter sux end of.
| name = Twitter
| type = [[Social network service]]
| logo = [[Image:Twitter.png]]
| screenshot =
| caption = Twitter logo
| url = http://twitter.com
| commercial = Yes
| type = [[Micro-blogging]]
| language = English
| registration = required
| owner = Twitter, Inc.
| author = Obvious, LLC<ref>[http://twitter.com/help/aboutus Twitter - About Us] Retrieved March 12th, 2008</ref>
| launch date = July 13, 2006
| current status =
| revenue =
}}

'''Twitter''' is a free [[social networking]] and [[micro-blogging]] service that allows users to send "updates" (or "tweets"; text-based posts, up to 140 characters long) to the Twitter website, via [[short message service]] (e.g. on a cell phone), [[instant messaging]], or a third-party application such as [[Twitterrific]] or [[Facebook]].

Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and instantly delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. The sender can restrict delivery to those in his or her circle of friends (delivery to everyone is the default). Users can receive updates via the Twitter website, instant messaging, [[SMS]], [[RSS]], email or through an application. For SMS, four gateway numbers are currently available: [[short codes]] for the [[United States]], [[Canada]], and [[India]], as well as a [[United Kingdom]] number for international use. Several third parties offer posting and receiving updates via email.

== Origin ==

Twitter began as a [[research and development]] project inside [[San Francisco]] start-up company Obvious, LLC in March 2006. It was initially used internally by the company, and officially launched in October 2006.<ref>[http://blog.obvious.com/2007/04/twitter-inc.html Obvious Blog: Twitter, Inc.]</ref>

The service rapidly gained popularity and in March 2007 won the 2007 [[South by Southwest]] Web Award in the blog category.<ref>[http://blog.twitter.com/2007/03/we-won.html "We Won!"] March 14th, 2007 Twitter Official Blog, retrieved March 16th, 2007</ref> Jack Dorsey, widely acknowledged as the man behind the concept of Twitter, gave the following playful acceptance speech at SXSW: "We'd like to thank you in 140 characters or less. And we just did!"

In April 2007, Obvious, LLC spun off the service as a separate entity under the name Twitter, Inc.,<ref>[http://blog.twitter.com/2007/04/incorporating-twitter.html Twitter Blog: Incorporating Twitter]</ref> with Jack Dorsey as its CEO.

== Prominent users ==

Many organizations (such as the [[Los Angeles Fire Department]]<ref>http://twitter.com/LAFD LAFD on Twitter</ref>) have embraced the technology and put it to use in situations such as the [[October 2007 California wildfires]].

Prominent Twitter users include [[United States presidential election, 2008|U.S. presidential candidates]] [[Ron Paul]],<ref>[http://twitter.com/RonPaul2008 Ron Paul on Twitter] Official Twitter Page</ref> [[John Edwards]], [[Barack Obama]],<ref>[http://twitter.com/BarackObama Barack Obama on Twitter] Official Twitter Page</ref> and [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>[http://twitter.com/HillaryClinton Hillary Clinton on Twitter] Official (?) Twitter Page</ref>

Higher education is also using the technology to relay important information to students in a more timely manner. Such is the case with The [[University of Texas at San Antonio College of Engineering]].<ref>[http://twitter.com/engineeringutsa Official UTSA Engineering Twitter Profile]</ref>

== Similar services ==
Due to Twitter's success, there have emerged a number of sites that imitate its concept but add country-specific services (e.g., [http://www.frazr.com frazr]) or combining the micro-blogging facilities with other services, such as filesharing (e.g., [[Pownce]]).

In May 2007, one source counted as many as 111 such "Twitter look-alikes" internationally.<ref>[http://www.thws.cn/article.asp?id=1366 Article on thws.cn.] A Chinese site, but the article is in English. Retrieved August 22nd, 2007.</ref>

In 2008 [[microblogs]] are becoming increasingly a topic on their own with article in major newspapers as El País.[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/portada/imparable/auge/microblogs/elpeputeccib/20080117elpcibpor_2/Tes El imparable auge de los 'microblogs']

== Reactions ==

In 2007, Twitter began experiencing numerous challenges related to its growing user base. The ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' wrote, "These [[social network|social-networking]] services elicit mixed feelings in the technology-savvy people who have been their early adopters. Fans say they are a good way to keep in touch with busy friends. But some users are starting to feel 'too' connected, as they grapple with check-in messages at odd hours, higher cellphone bills and the need to tell acquaintances to stop announcing what they're having for dinner."<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117373145818634482-ZwdoPQ0PqPrcFMDHDZLz_P6osnI_20080315.html "Friends Swap Twitters, and Frustration - New Real-Time Messaging Services Overwhelm Some Users With Mundane Updates From Friends"] March 16th, 2007 Wall Street Journal, retrieved March 16th, 2007</ref> ''[[The Industry Standard]]'' has pointed to its lack of revenue as limiting its long-term viability.<ref>[http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/03/28/twitter-fanatical-users-help-build-brand-not-revenue "Twitter: Fanatical users help build the brand, but not revenue"] March 31, 2008 The Industry Standard</ref>

== Security ==

The first Twitter security vulnerability was reported on [[April 7]], [[2007]] by Nitesh Dhanjani. The problem was due to Twitter using the SMS message originator as the authentication of the user's account. Nitesh used [http://www.fakemytext.com fakemytext.com] to [[SMS spoofing | spoof a text message]], whereupon Twitter posted the message on the victim's page. This vulnerability can only be used if the victim's phone number is known.<ref>[http://www.dhanjani.com/archives/2007/04/twitter_and_jott_vulnerable_to.html Twitter and Jott Vulnerable to SMS and Caller ID Spoofing] April 7, 2007: Nitesh Dhanjani Blog Entry</ref> Within a few weeks of this discovery, Twitter introduced an optional PIN that its users can specify to authenticate SMS-originating messages.

== Technology ==

Twitter is written in [[Ruby on Rails]].<ref>[http://www.radicalbehavior.com/5-question-interview-with-twitter-developer-alex-payne/ 5 Question Interview with Twitter Developer Alex Payne] March 29, 2007</ref> Twitter achieved approximately 98% uptime in 2007, or about 6 full days of downtime.<ref name="downtime1">[http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2007/12/20/twitter-downtime-revealed-ridiculed Twitter Downtime Revealed, Ridiculed]</ref><ref name="downtime2">[http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/20/twitter-downtime-on-the-upswing/ Twitter Downtime on the Upswing]</ref> Twitter's downtime was particularly noticeable during events popular with the technology industry, such as the 2008 [[Macworld Conference & Expo]] keynote address.<ref name="downtime3">[http://blog.twitter.com/2008/01/macworld.html Twitter Blog - MacWorld]</ref><ref name="downtime4">[http://oracleappslab.com/2008/01/15/macworld-brings-twitter-to-its-knees/ MacWorld Brings Twitter to its Knees]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Dodgeball (service)|Dodgeball]]
* [[Jaiku]]
* [[Pownce]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}
* {{cite journal|url=http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/magazine/15-07/st_thompson |title=This Just In: I'm Twittering |journal=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |volume=15 |issue=7 |date=[[July 2007]] |first=Clive |last=Thompson |pages=60}}
'''Twoggle''' - Custom Search Engine. Twoogle offers users a custom-tailored Twittering search experience using Google's core search engine technology. Twoogle prioritizes search results based on websites, blogs and pages that are the most relevant to the Twitter phenomenon specifically and micro blogging and social media in general. Twoogle is located at The Wall Tweet Journal [www.walltweetjournal.com]

== External links ==
* [http://www.twitter.com Twitter.com]
* [http://obvious.com/ Obvious's Corporate site]
* [http://twitter.pbwiki.com Twitter Fan Wiki]
* [http://uk.intruders.tv/Interview-with-Twitter-co-founder-Biz-Stone_a133.html Interview with Twitter co-founder Biz Stone] video
* [http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2007/05/for_the_uberconnectedyour_guid.html Your Guide to Microblogging and Twitter] PBS MediaShift
* [http://wellbelove.wordpress.com/2008/03/04/politicians-and-businesses-get-ready-to-twitter/ Politicians use of Twitter]
* [http://www.walltweetjournal.com The Wall Tweet Journal] - The Knowledge Base for Innovative Twittering, Mirco Blogging and Social Media

[[Category:Twitter| {{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Online social networking]]
[[Category:Web 2.0]]
[[Category:Blog hosting services]]

[[ca:Twitter]]
[[da:O-live]]
[[de:Twitter]]
[[es:Twitter]]
[[eu:Twitter]]
[[fr:Twitter]]
[[ko:트위터]]
[[id:Twitter]]
[[it:Twitter]]
[[hu:Twitter]]
[[nl:Twitter]]
[[ja:Twitter]]
[[pl:Twitter]]
[[pt:Twitter]]
[[ru:Twitter]]
[[th:ทวิตเตอร์]]
[[zh:Twitter]]

Revision as of 17:35, 13 April 2008

Twitter
Type of site
Micro-blogging
Available inEnglish
OwnerTwitter, Inc.
Created byObvious, LLC[1]
URLhttp://twitter.com
CommercialYes
Registrationrequired

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send "updates" (or "tweets"; text-based posts, up to 140 characters long) to the Twitter website, via short message service (e.g. on a cell phone), instant messaging, or a third-party application such as Twitterrific or Facebook.

Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and instantly delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. The sender can restrict delivery to those in his or her circle of friends (delivery to everyone is the default). Users can receive updates via the Twitter website, instant messaging, SMS, RSS, email or through an application. For SMS, four gateway numbers are currently available: short codes for the United States, Canada, and India, as well as a United Kingdom number for international use. Several third parties offer posting and receiving updates via email.

Origin

Twitter began as a research and development project inside San Francisco start-up company Obvious, LLC in March 2006. It was initially used internally by the company, and officially launched in October 2006.[2]

The service rapidly gained popularity and in March 2007 won the 2007 South by Southwest Web Award in the blog category.[3] Jack Dorsey, widely acknowledged as the man behind the concept of Twitter, gave the following playful acceptance speech at SXSW: "We'd like to thank you in 140 characters or less. And we just did!"

In April 2007, Obvious, LLC spun off the service as a separate entity under the name Twitter, Inc.,[4] with Jack Dorsey as its CEO.

Prominent users

Many organizations (such as the Los Angeles Fire Department[5]) have embraced the technology and put it to use in situations such as the October 2007 California wildfires.

Prominent Twitter users include U.S. presidential candidates Ron Paul,[6] John Edwards, Barack Obama,[7] and Hillary Clinton.[8]

Higher education is also using the technology to relay important information to students in a more timely manner. Such is the case with The University of Texas at San Antonio College of Engineering.[9]

Similar services

Due to Twitter's success, there have emerged a number of sites that imitate its concept but add country-specific services (e.g., frazr) or combining the micro-blogging facilities with other services, such as filesharing (e.g., Pownce).

In May 2007, one source counted as many as 111 such "Twitter look-alikes" internationally.[10]

In 2008 microblogs are becoming increasingly a topic on their own with article in major newspapers as El País.El imparable auge de los 'microblogs'

Reactions

In 2007, Twitter began experiencing numerous challenges related to its growing user base. The Wall Street Journal wrote, "These social-networking services elicit mixed feelings in the technology-savvy people who have been their early adopters. Fans say they are a good way to keep in touch with busy friends. But some users are starting to feel 'too' connected, as they grapple with check-in messages at odd hours, higher cellphone bills and the need to tell acquaintances to stop announcing what they're having for dinner."[11] The Industry Standard has pointed to its lack of revenue as limiting its long-term viability.[12]

Security

The first Twitter security vulnerability was reported on April 7, 2007 by Nitesh Dhanjani. The problem was due to Twitter using the SMS message originator as the authentication of the user's account. Nitesh used fakemytext.com to spoof a text message, whereupon Twitter posted the message on the victim's page. This vulnerability can only be used if the victim's phone number is known.[13] Within a few weeks of this discovery, Twitter introduced an optional PIN that its users can specify to authenticate SMS-originating messages.

Technology

Twitter is written in Ruby on Rails.[14] Twitter achieved approximately 98% uptime in 2007, or about 6 full days of downtime.[15][16] Twitter's downtime was particularly noticeable during events popular with the technology industry, such as the 2008 Macworld Conference & Expo keynote address.[17][18]

See also

References

  1. ^ Twitter - About Us Retrieved March 12th, 2008
  2. ^ Obvious Blog: Twitter, Inc.
  3. ^ "We Won!" March 14th, 2007 Twitter Official Blog, retrieved March 16th, 2007
  4. ^ Twitter Blog: Incorporating Twitter
  5. ^ http://twitter.com/LAFD LAFD on Twitter
  6. ^ Ron Paul on Twitter Official Twitter Page
  7. ^ Barack Obama on Twitter Official Twitter Page
  8. ^ Hillary Clinton on Twitter Official (?) Twitter Page
  9. ^ Official UTSA Engineering Twitter Profile
  10. ^ Article on thws.cn. A Chinese site, but the article is in English. Retrieved August 22nd, 2007.
  11. ^ "Friends Swap Twitters, and Frustration - New Real-Time Messaging Services Overwhelm Some Users With Mundane Updates From Friends" March 16th, 2007 Wall Street Journal, retrieved March 16th, 2007
  12. ^ "Twitter: Fanatical users help build the brand, but not revenue" March 31, 2008 The Industry Standard
  13. ^ Twitter and Jott Vulnerable to SMS and Caller ID Spoofing April 7, 2007: Nitesh Dhanjani Blog Entry
  14. ^ 5 Question Interview with Twitter Developer Alex Payne March 29, 2007
  15. ^ Twitter Downtime Revealed, Ridiculed
  16. ^ Twitter Downtime on the Upswing
  17. ^ Twitter Blog - MacWorld
  18. ^ MacWorld Brings Twitter to its Knees
  • Thompson, Clive (July 2007). "This Just In: I'm Twittering". Wired. 15 (7): 60. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

Twoggle - Custom Search Engine. Twoogle offers users a custom-tailored Twittering search experience using Google's core search engine technology. Twoogle prioritizes search results based on websites, blogs and pages that are the most relevant to the Twitter phenomenon specifically and micro blogging and social media in general. Twoogle is located at The Wall Tweet Journal [www.walltweetjournal.com]

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Twitter&oldid=205366292"