The blogosphere is buzzing like crazy with rumors that Google is finalizing an agreement to buy the micro-blogging social networking upstart Twitter. Over the past week, searching the phrase “Google buying twitter” yielded over 100 million search results. But is this just a Internet rumor gone wild, or is the big G actually putting in a bid for Twitter?
Web experts agree that Twitter is a hot commodity these days, and is certainly ripe for a buyout. What hasn’t been confirmed is that Google has actually put in a bid. And you can bet your bottom dollar that Yahoo and other uber-Web companies are also interested in getting access to Twitter’s growing legions of users.
24-hour news networks like CNN and MSNBC are already using the site to keep viewers abreast of new developments in real-time. Besides the news media, actors, entertainers, musicians and other celebrities are also taking advantage of the power of Twitter to keep fans (or “followers”) abreast of their every move.
On Monday, Twitter’s cofounder, Biz Stone, finally spoke out about me Google takeover rumors, saying that the company is currently negotiating with Google, while stressing that Twitter intends to remain independent as a company: “we’re just getting started… we’ve got over 30 employees now and we are working out of a loft in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood.”
Was Stone being deliberately vague in his answer? He admitted that Twitter and Google representatives had been speaking; all the while insisting that Twitter intends to maintain its independence as a company. So what gives?
Many Web business analysts feel that Twitter representatives are playing their cards very close to their chests at this time; a move that could put them in a better negotiating position if they are serious about selling out to Google. Others believe that Stone’s comments reflect his company’s intention not to simply “rollover” when Google throws a large chunk of money at them — the way YouTube did, for example.
But unless you’re a mind reader, there’s no way to know exactly what is going on with the Google/Twitter relationship, or even if there is one at all. Having said all that, the smart money seems to be on the side of the online rumors, suggesting that Google is making a play for Twitter — and that Twitter is simply playing “hard to get” in order to maximize their bargaining position.
But just as in the buyout of YouTube, many Twitter fans are already bemoaning the idea of Google buying out the company. They point to changes made in the YouTube business model after Google took over, especially the increased on-site advertising. Diehard Twitter users say the deal would be good for business, but lousy for the end-user — those who actually “tweet.”
