Simplicity, purpose, people.
Yes, Twitter was there first and had all the technorati raving about it earlier this year at SXSW, but it also had something else. A singular purpose that 
didn’t pretend to be anything else. So
while Jaiku is interesting, and Pownce is feature-rich, Twitter continues to do what it was designed to do. Answer the one question: “What are you doing?”
Purpose
Of course the original purpose was to let friends know what your up to, and be able to do that from the web, IM, or text message. While Twitter still asks the same question, it’s users have continued to push the boundaries of what the service can be used for. Because of that user innovation, Twitter unknowingly launched the concept of micro-blogging.
One recent user-created innovation that brings value to the service is Dave Winer’s TwitterGram. Bringing the ability to leave ~30 second voice messages via the service, including by phone.
Another user-innovation is using a URL shorting service like TinyURL or urlTea to keep URLs to a short 25 characters. This of course allows the inclusion of links in Twitter posts.
Since the heavy influx of users back in February and March, the idea of micro-blogging has taken root. While Twitter still asks the same question, it’s users continue to expand it’s usefulness. In addition to telling everyone what you are currently doing, it also allows one to ask questions and get answers.
Simplicity
Twitter is also simple to use. There are no other controls or buttons on the site to take away from the user experience. You come, you post, you read. It’s a super fast way to post your thoughts. Also, keeping the text limit to 140 characters or less has done several things. It fits with nearly all SMS text messaging services field limits, it makes it fast to post, and it makes people think of how best to say something.
People
Of course the biggest reason that Twitter is better is the people that are already there. Yes, they are there because it was up and running first, but its the actual core group that uses Twitter every day, all day. The simplicity and single-focus on micro-blogging that keeps them using the service.
Most bloggers already have their day full, and adding new social networks that do the same thing are a poor use of time. We’ve got too many places to update our status, and trade notes with friends to add another service that really doesn’t enhance to core product in a efficient way.
Also, with a number of “A List” and/or prominent and well-known bloggers on Twitter, it is a wonder resource for news in your genre and getting to know each Twitter Friend better.
IMHO
It’s my opinion that Twitter simply rocks for these reasons. While it’s well documented to have problems from time to time, and there are a number of features that many Twitters request, it’s just too valuable to me in it’s current form to look elsewhere for the same functionality. I’ll be staying with Twitter.
More Bloggers on the Twitter vs. Pownce debate:
- Verge New Media – Twitter vs. Pownce and the Value Proposition of Social Media
- 1389 Mobile Blog – Twitter vs. Pownce – With Rolling Updates
