Identi.ca: Will it kill Twitter?
Identi.ca , which launched on 2nd July, is the new kid on the microblogging block. Unlike Twitter, Plurk, Pownce, Jaiku etc, Identi.ca is a built using free software which means legally, you can go and take their code and run it on your own site which opens this service up to endless possibilities.
To differentiate itself from the numerous microblogging services already out there Identi.ca has announced some exciting features. Those features are; cross-posting to Twitter, Pownce, Jaiku, etc as well as having Twitter, Pownce etc messages appear on Identi.ca, Facebook integration, ability to upload images and videos and maps. Unfortunately, none of these features are live yet, but the site does promise that they are coming “soon”.
At the moment, Identi.ca is like a poor man’s Twitter, except unlike Twitter, it hasn’t fall over…. yet. The user base is very small and you can not yet search to see if your friends are already there. But if you hang out on the public timeline long enough, you will see everyone who uses the service anyway. Another annoying missing feature is the ability to delete your posts or “dents” as they are called. That means if you post something in error, it stays there for all eternity.
I guess I am being a little harsh on a service that is barely 24 hours old as Identi.ca does seem to have a lot of potential. However, it remains to be seen if Identi.ca can live up to the expectation of being a Twitter killer. If they are able to keep their system operational as their user base grows and implement all the promised features, they have a real shoot at superseding Twitter as the King of Microblogging Tools.
Have you given Identi.ca a try? What are your thoughts about it?
I can be found on Identi.ca at http://identi.ca/riayn/
I am currently testing out Posterous, a tool which allows you to post text, images and audio online via email, so stay tuned for my review on it.
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July 5th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I’ll be interested in any service that’ll allow me to update via text message and receive text messages when my friends update so I’ll try to keep an eye on ident.ca for that.
I like the new design, btw.
July 6th, 2008 at 5:09 am
Great blog! I write about media a lot and will definitely look to it for opinions and insights.
Gladyss last blog post..Ray-Ban Project Colorize
July 6th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Candice: Twitter already offers the service you are looking for in terms of being able to send text messages to it and receive notifications of your friends up by text message. Unfortunately Identi.ca has not yet built this feature in which is why I think many people are staying away until they do. I think it was unwise to launch without the features that other microblogging services already offer. It does not create a very good first impression in that respect.
Gladys: Thanks for dropping by! Your blog has some great articles about advertising.
Riayns last blog post..Identi.ca: Will it kill Twitter?
July 14th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Its hard to believe, but giving me an awareness about identi.ca has motivated me to finally try twitter. I think I’ll read through quite a few of your posts from the past, I’m guessing I’ll be interested in quite a few of the posts.
Good Luck with Blog Idol. I’m subscribing to your feed now.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Duane: I am glad I have inspired you to give Twitter a go. Feel free to look me up on there
Also, thank you so much for subscribing to my feed.
Riayns last blog post..Have nuns taken up the blogging habit?