Twitter buys TweetDeck, what gives?

TweetDeck

(CBS) - The acquisition cost microblogging site Twitter $40 million, but it was probably worth it. TweetDeck, a third-party application of Twitter (in addition to other social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Foursquare), allows users to send and receive tweets, and view profiles. Uh, how is that different than using plain, old Twitter, you ask? It's just cooler.

5 awesome uses for TweetDeck

"The deal makes complete sense as Twitter as a way to read and write tweets is a no-frills platform that loses many people once they get some experience and start to explore alternatives," said International Business Times. In fact, a recent report from Sysomos, a social media analytics company, found that 42 percent of tweets are made using non-official Twitter services and applications -- TweetDeck included.

Tweeters are going to TweetDeck because it's user-friendly, has fun features, and can consolidate all social media updates in one desktop window.

If you haven't started using TweetDeck yet, I bet we just convinced you to sign up.

[MarketMeSuite]

"Change may well be inevitable" - Sounds like that means the killing off of integrations.

It's funny, Twitter said "TweetDeck is a great example of a third-party developer that designed tools for the incredibly important audience of Twitter power-users and, in turn, created value for the network as a whole. As Iain's journey suggests, there is significant opportunity for developers who deliver insights that foster a more engaged Twitter user base."

Yet in a letter to all developers less than a month ago they said "don't make twitter clients." We love Twitter, we love developing for them, but that is slightly contradictory, no?

~Tammy, CEO @MarketMeSuite

[WraithTDK]

"Twitter (in addition to other social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Foursquare), allows users to send and receive tweets, and view profiles. Uh, how is that different than using plain, old Twitter, you ask?"

Who's asking that? Since when can you monitor and interact with other social networks, send longer tweets, etc. with regular Twitter?

[MarketMeSuite]

Tweetdeck is great for the power 'end user.' The people who use twitter to as more of a viewing platform to observe the world. What we are finding, though, is that business users are having to find other platforms that cater more to marketing and analytics, Hootsuite, MarketMeSuite and CoTweet, to name a few.

Also, very curious to see if Twitter keeps the Facebook integration into their new acquisition.

~Tammy, CEO @MarketMeSuite