The news of Michael Jackson’s passing was quickly widespread, it was probably the fastest news story ever to reach the world and it did so because of technology, namely Twitter. Within minutes of the article appearing on TMZ’s website, it was global! I was following closely using one of my favourite Twitter news tools; Twitscoop which analyses public tweats looking for patterns in real time and shows emphasis on the most common subjects.

Through Twitter, I watched accusations on Michael’s Doctor, I saw mass hatred of Parez Hilton for accusing Michael of faking his collapse.

Yesterday I saw the start of the mass moonwalk in Liverpool Street Station, I even got to watch it live online through someone’s mobile phone!

Twitter is a wonderful thing because it allows mass communication spread instantly throughout the world.

While watching the trending keywords on Twitter however, something strange happened. Jeff Goldblum’s name popped up and quickly grew. After looking into it, news of his death was spreading just as quickly. Harrison Ford also cropped up as having died or gone missing depending on the source.

News of Michael Jackson stopped people in their tracks and brought them online to Twitter. Now people are poised for news, this story went even faster!

At the time of writing, both Jeff Boldblum and Harrison Ford are alive and well (and no doubt questioning that fact Sixth Sense style)

Before Twitter, reporters researched stories before publishing. All information needed some proof before it would get published.

With Twitter, the information leaks uncontrollably and is retweeted and spread with little or no such research.

The world has become a nation of well connected, free publishers. Is this a good thing? The alternative Orwellian Internet doesn’t bare thinking about but we should learn to be ever more careful about the source of our information.

We need to learn to fight the urge to become the ‘first’ and instead become the ‘best’. I wonder where else that lesson could be applied.

Twitter, the popular social networking applet which allows users to answer ‘What are you doing now?’ in 140 characters or less has stopped sending SMS messages to UK users. Unable to find a mobile partner to offer better rates, they have been forced with escalating costs to stop the service all together. Twitter already capped the messages at 250 per month, but this still costs around £500 per user per year outside the US, India and Canada.

The following alternatives are available:

• m.twitter.com works on browser-enabled phones
• m.slandr.net works on browser-enabled phones
• TwitterMail works on email-enabled phones
• Cellity works on java-enabled phones
• TwitterBerry works on BlackBerry brand phones
• Twitterific works on iPhones

In the meantime, you can still update your twitter status by sending an SMS to +44 7624 801 423 as many times as your credit will allow.

Do you know the head of any mobile network in the UK? If they are interested in becoming a saviour, and gain plenty of extra publicity, put them in touch with Twitter to get things moving again!

Twitter is used by a number of companies wishing to keep in touch with each other, one SMS to the system will forward out to all ‘followers’ keeping each other up to date with what’s going on. Business collaborations have also been using it to keep the teams updated with current developments, and Joe Public to keep in touch with friends. We’ve yet to see any paid advertising on the platform, but the potential revenue for this would be immense, especially if the SMS service could be resumed.

Besides keeping in contact with other users, strengthening relationships and promoting themselves and their brand, users can also use Twitter to keep up to date with BBC News, what’s going on in the Big Brother house and even London Underground service updates. Twitter can be used to update status’ on several other platforms like Ecademy, Facebook and can be set to update automatically using other APIs, RSS feeds from blogs etc.

If you didn’t get Twitter, you may be interested to learn of another company offering something similar but more complete.

Gypsii works specifically from a mobile phone as more people travel with mobiles than with laptops. It allows sending of images, ratings, text etc. With a local search feature you can not only find the nearest restaurants and shops, but you can also see what your friends and other Gypsii users have said about them.

Scored the ultimate pool or golf shot? now you can capture all who did witness it to show you’re the champ to people who didn’t.

Interesting idea? Before anyone starts on at me about it being invasive, remember that people only see what you decide to tell them. Anyone using it already? Let me (us) know how you’re getting on with it.

When you go to the cafe for a coffee… you wouldn’t email your clients or family about it would you? If you want 5 minutes peace, or are even bored and WANT a phone call… do you email people to tell them?

Introducing Twitter, another social networking platform. Simple but effective and allows you to do the above quite effectively. Below you’ll see my live feed.

Right now I can update my status on Ecademy, it will pass through to Twitter and then onto Facebook… now that’s true power! Graham Jones explains how to do this.

Is there a real use for this tool? In terms of online networking which is becoming increasingly popular with people of all ages and business sizes absolutely!In terms of instant advertising or even communicating with those people at home who share your living room who you don’t often get to see.

With real time updates, you could even have separate boxes with current status’ next to your staff on the company key members page. (Yes we can do this with more customisation than twitter themselves.) With the way today’s small or personal businesses work, if you’re not in, you’re out.

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