Twitter adds Geo-location
Twitter has announced it will release a geo-location format to its developers before placing it on twitter.com.
It has been working on location based projects for some time, but has only now made an announcement about its work in this area. The popular twitter tools we use such as 'TweetDeck' and 'Seesmic' are being given the API first so their developers can incorporate it into their existing offer. The feature will allow latitude and longitude to be added to every tweet making it truly location-aware.
Since developers of popular twitter tools are receiving the API before it is released on twitter.com, it is likely we will see this added functionality on those platforms first. Twitter say it will be an opt-in service and will be set to 'off' by default. Also the exact location data will not be held indefinitely.
This adds a layer of compelling context to each burst of information provided. For example, not only will you be able to follow the tweets of those whom you have chosen to follow, but can switch to read the tweets of those in your neighbourhood or city, whether you follow them or not.
Imagine how interesting it would be to see the data connected with an event such as a concert or something more dramatic such as a flood or terrorist attack.
The potential for advertising brought by this new development has also not gone unnoticed - casting a net of tweets over those who happen to be in a specific location at a specific time, has attractive and not so attractive ramifications.
