Twitter is like 'rich man's SMS system'

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

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 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.

SMS: more innovations

We have reported before on innovative SMS services. Here are some recent additions:

• SMS with Attachments: a text message is sent, after which the phone rings and a multimedia message is played. Launched by China Unicom and China Mobile (technology from NMS Communications, built by ChannelSoft).
• Voice over SMS: short audio messages. To be launched by both Comium (in Liberia and Sierra Leone; technology from Apliman Technologies) and Comcel (in Haiti, technology from Kirusa).
• Ads over SMS: pushing location-based ads. Launched by StarHub in Singapore.
  
• Payments over SMS: Launched by Rabo Mobiel (a Dutch MVNO on the KPN network).
  

M1 launches SMS 2.0

Singapore mobile operator M1 launched SMS2.0: another innovative SMS-based service (cf. my previous post).

It requires a (free) download, which may also be pre-installed (Nokia/Symbian handsets only). Content is pushed and free, some of it actually consists of ads. Data charges apply when a subscribers wants to dig deeper.

Sending will cost the same as a "SMS 1.0" message, but now the user can add color and emoticons.

I like the concept:

• innovation to a very profitable service that will likely find appeal, especially among the younger demographic.
• it's an opt-in service.
• could generate new revenues, both from using data and advertising.

Cool news: FTTH, M&A, SMS, products and services

Here is some recent and noteworthy stuff, with just a few words of my own:

FTTH:

• Gaining a lot of momentum. I just updated my private litle database, a Google spreadsheet that you can also access on the right (under 'Fiber Ring').
• Of note: OEN (Houston) closes its network, SureWest may buy the assets.

Takeover speculation:

• DT is checking out EDS. Will DT be the big new consolidator? DT is also interested in 3's European assets.
• Google is weighing Skype.
• TI is looking to exit France, Iliad is interested.
• Several operators are mysteriously selling international mobile assets, or are putting them at an arm's length: PT and its Africa Holdings, Telmex and its Telmex Internacional, Telekom Malaysia and its TM International. Vodafone is interested in the latter, as well as in Vodacom. And Tele2 is still busy buying and selling things.

Cool new products:

• Everex is launching a Google-friendly PC, the Green gPC, with Google apps pre-loaded or given easy access to. I suppose that is an 'asset-light' entry into the PC-market.
• Amazon Kindle, Kindle Store and Whispernet. Many comments widely available. Connectivity is included - very much a Telco 2.0 strategy. A European launch will be hampered by lengthy negotiations with operators.

Cool new services:

• Celtel in Africa is launching 'One Network', essentially a roaming deal turning 12 networks into one. Calling at local rates, automatic activation, no sign-up or fee.
• Cox is stretching its network towards 1 Gbps bandwidth.
• BT is negotiating e-health business opportunities in Qatar and neighbouring states. I think e-health is a multi-billion opportunity, where many participants meet. That will allow operators like BT to become the center of an ecosystem.
• Jajah is launching an opt-in service where advertisements replace ring-back tones. They say it takes an average 12 seconds before people answer a call. I suppose they will not allow competitors into the advertising network.

Ever new SMS-based apps:

• Zain launched automatic translations (Arabic/English).
• SpinVox enables voice-to-text conversion and has a deal with Skype: a voice message will be converted into an SMS. Also several operator deals (Alltel, Vodacom, Telstra a.o.).
• Kajeet, an MVNO on Sprint, launched 'Feeds': entertainment and information pushed to the user as an SMS, at 10 c/SMS.
• Mobile payments using SMS, e.g. Safaricom in Kenya and Base in Belgium. Proximus (Belgium) launched public transportation ticketing by SMS.
• KPN's 'flirting service' olllo uses SMS (priced at 55 cents!).

Innovative mobile communication services

Innovation is coming to the mobile communications sector. Voice and SMS are not dead yet. This way, data revenues (other than SMS) will never make it past the 20% or so share of mobile service revenues ;-).

Virtual + real calling
Vodafone ('InsideOut') enables voice calling on and off Second Life. Telecom Italia's Second Life service is limited to on-net calling (between avatars). This functionality may spread, as Linden Lab is working on interoperability with IBM, in order to allow avatars to move into other virtual worlds.

Internet + mobile IM
Billed as micro-blogging service or as a Twitter look-alike, Jaiku is the newest Google annex. It extends into the mobile realm.

Email to SMS/IM
The latest Yahoo! Mail version added the possibility of sending messages to mobile phones (as an SMS) or to an IM service (Yahoo! or Live).

SMS + LBS
KPN launched olllo (with Heineken and MTV for advertising), a flirting service. It uses both SMS (for communication) and the callers' positions on the network (to find a victim) and obviously goes a little bit further than Sprint's 'friend finding' service, which uses GPS (so the pin-pointing is better, but it takes a GPS-enabled handset).

UPDATE (Oct. 11):
Of course I could have included SMS services from Google:

• In September, it applied for a patent related to paying by SMS (Safaricom of Kenya apparently also has a payment system based on SMS, as does KPN-subsidiary Base).
• Yesterday it launched Google SMS (queries by SMS for local info) in India.