And we are adding more all the time!The first question any newbie comes up with is “What is Twitter?” And it is to Twitters credit that it is so many things to so many people. At a very basic level, you could just say that twitter is a social networking site. And yet, that is a very simplistic description, because Twitter is versatile and lends itself to many more applications.
For starters, Twitter is a global community of friends – or even strangers. If they are strangers, they can soon become friends. Twitter provides the opportunity for people to send instant messages or updates about themselves round the clock, to their friends and acquaintances. People can use Twitter to stay in touch with their friends regardless of location, across the world. Twitter can also be used as a tool for mini-blogging. Techies can make their own Twitter tools by making use of the API.
Twitter can work on a computer or mobile phone. When you register on Twitter you get your own page. However, you don’t have to be on your computer to use Twitter. You only have to connect your mobile phone and instant messenger account to your Twitter account.
All messages have to be within 140 characters and are sent as individual SMS alerts. It is convenient to send out messages to groups and hence saves time. You can control who reads your messages by authorizing specific friends or groups, thereby keeping it all private and personal. You can also choose to make them public if you so wish. You can opt to be alerted on your mobile phone when anyone sends you a message – you can specify whose messages should be acknowledged. This is in addition to messages appearing on your Twitter page of course.
But there is even more to Twitter, as is evident in the different perceptions held by people every where. To quote a few:
“It's a service (?) which you can interface with via the Web or your instant message client. And, perhaps most importantly, via text messages. In theory, all Twitter updates (Twitterings? Tweets? Twitter missives?) answer the question "What are you doing?” – Todd Stadler
“…because it’s such a fun service (and potential time sink – you’ve been warned, uninitiated readers) and I really wish more people used it.” – blog.crankingwidgets.com
“Essential learning and networking tool.” – buffyjhamilton@gardenglen
“Connected global learning resources.” – derralg@gardenglen
“Twitter is a free service that lets you keep in touch with people through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: what are you doing?” - djamesmanny
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