Actually, Twitter Is More Like the Rich Man's SMS

Google's (GOOG) Eric Schmidt described Twitter as a 'poor man's email system'. It is usually described as microblogging, but pulling it into the realm of communications can be enlightening.

I think of communications in a three dimensional matrix:

• Along one axis is the type of message (text, voice or video).
• Along the other is the level of immediacy, ranging from immediate via somewhat delayed to almost time-insensitive.
• A third axis could have the type of device by screen size: inch (mobile device), foot (computer) or yard (TV).

Since I don't have any 3-D skills, this is what would describe the matrix:

Text:

• The immediate form is chat (inch or foot).
• SMS (inch) is somewhat delayed.
• Email (foot or inch) is even more time-insensitive.

Voice:

• Traditional voice calls (inch, foot) are immediate.
• Voice-to-SMS conversion (inch) is the delayed version.
• Voicemail (inch) is the least time-sensitive.

Video:

• Videocalls (inch, foot or yard) will be immediate.
• Recorded videocalls could be alerted for via SMS for a somewhat delayed experience.
• Recorded videocalls could also be vodcasts or YouTube clips (least time-sensitive).

Now the question is: where does Twitter fit in? To me, it feels much like SMS. What it adds to the matrix is that it isn't just an inch app, but a foot app too.

Finally, what is missing in the matrix is mainly yard-versions, such as reading email on TV, but obviously that may not develop into the mainstream. SMS delivered to the foot-screen (computer) is probably a good idea (examples, anybody?). Voicemail to the inch-screen could be done by podcasting.

Comments

[Adrian D:]

Twitter may yet become the replacement for email because its so much easier to unsubscribe yourself from other twitterers who send you spam.

At least it puts you in the drivers seat

Its also very closely related to text messaging but without the high monthly rates.

Mar 05 11:06 AM

[Mad Hedge F...:]

Thanks for the insights. Charlie Rose did an insightful interview with Marc Andreesen last week, who has one of the best high altitude views of the long term future of technology. This is the man who, at 22 co-authored Mosaic browser, which was used to create Netscape Navigator, and eventually Internet Explorer. He sees the recession creating a “tragic opportunity” that accelerates the migration of dying industries to the Internet like, radio, TV, DVD’s, music, newspapers, real estate, and banking. Every day the awesome power of the Internet to eat new industries grows, which is now populated by 1.5 billion users. His favorite game is the incredibly violent “Gears of War 2” which you should keep out of the hands of your teenagers. Venture capital start ups are not in as bad of shape as people say because they are usually funded with five years of cash flow, enough to get through a downturn. Google, YouTube, and Facebook were all developed during the last recession. The Internet is creating a far better educated and connected consumer than ever seen before. Twitter, where Andreesen is a director, is becoming a real time electronic nervous system for the planet. The same is happening with the world’s three billion video enabled cell phone users. He is also on the board of Facebook, with 175 million users, which is leaving at least a $1 billion a year in potential advertising revenues on the table. He is an angel investor in the social networking site LinkedIn, which now boasts 20 million resumes. All in all, it was a fascinating peak into the future.

Mar 05 01:07 PM