It was only yesterday that I tweeted ‘Need a phone that handles Twitter better. iPhone or G1?’ The answer, as it happens, was G1 hardware with iPhone software, which is not much good.
But, interestingly, what I didn’t think to ask was which network handles Twitter best. For Vodafone obviously thinks that being the one that does is the latest tiny advantage it can steal over its fiercely well-matched competitors. The company has struck a new deal to help absorb the cost of allowing Twitterers to receive updates from the people they follow over SMS.
The back story is that Twitter stopped providing this service to UK users last summer, the reason being it was costing them an absolute fortune. Users can still use SMS to send their own Twitter updates – they just couldn’t see what the people they were following said in the same way.
For those with smartphones, which - until recently - was most of the people using Twitter, this was no real issue. Users have switched to applications on their phones (particularly their iPhones) or simply the mobile web to Twitter while on the move. But, for those with more basic phones, this was not so feasible. That includes teens who – lately – have been discovering Twitter for themselves, along with the beginnings of the mass market, as the service goes past tipping point. It is not hard to imagine Twitter being absolutely massive for this group, particularly if they can use SMS to send AND receive tweets.
So, this looks a smart move in the chase for customers. But, Vodafone says the deal is only temporary – and well they might. If they do attract the mass market - and particularly Twittering teens - with the service, the costs are going to go up very, very quickly.
