What else would you use it for...I thought that was the whole point of Twitter??? - Amber Horner

agree with Amber. @steveisaacs asks too much of Twitter. Plus, Bezos support bodes well for the long haul. - Kirk Skodis from twhirl

Twitter has been an API since day one... it was BORN to be one... But it will never reach critical mass if it doesn't become consistent. I think its got about 2 months to completely revitalize its system before everyone throws it to the side. If even one stable site built an API similar, Twitter would go Friendster in a heartbeat. - Sebastian Lemery

I expect Twitter to be 1) reliable = epic fail. 2) Something more than a simple one way alerting medium = fail 3) to grow and mature like all great web services = also a fail. Twitter came out with an interesting new service and were lucky that great users gave it value. I'm kind of amazed at how little it has changed and adapted over the last couple years, kind of unimpressive really. And now, it's always down! I'm happy about that though, because my Twitter frustration brought me to FriendFeed. ;) - Steve Isaacs

"Twitter was not architected as a messaging system, however. For expediency's sake, Twitter was built with technologies and practices that are more appropriate to a content management system." - dev.twitter.com 5/22 (why can't I link that here?). I think its natural for folks who just started using Twitter a few months ago to bolt now. But I see pioneers who built on shaky ground and are now rushing to build a foundation while the villagers are storming the gates. Hopefully the community foundation is solid - Kirk Skodis

Not built as a messenging system? That's the strangest thing I've heard in a while. Honestly, Twitter can say what they want, write whatever excuse they want, but when it comes down to it, they were the architects for an idea they sucked at implimenting. Stand aside and let someone who knows what they're doing handle it from here. - Sebastian Lemery

I really appreciate how flickr started as a completely different idea, apparently as some IMing type solution, but consistently evolved to the needs of its users then became a standard. Twitter to me is exactly like friendster - and to Sebastian's point - created something they couldn't maintain. I assert that they also have spent no time or imagination at re-creating or evolving the service. If the users want discussions, then help them, don't just sit back and say "it's an API - don't expect too much!". - Steve Isaacs