How Did Twitter Get Started?

#14 Brainstorming

 
Twitter was born during a full day brainstorming discussion from the podcasting Odeo group. The idea of a SMS style system for for small group communication (seriously) began.
 

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15: Twttr
The inaugural code name for this project was "twttr." One of the creators Noah Glass picked it based on "Flickr" and the fact that SMS short codes are 5 letters.
14: Brainstorming
Twitter was born during a full day brainstorming discussion from the podcasting Odeo group. The idea of a SMS style system for for small group communication (seriously) began.
13: Numbers Game
The first code was "10958" but develops soon realized that wasn't particularly easy to remember. "40404" was designated because of its simplicity.
12: Tweet
The first tweet was sent by Dorsey on March 21, 2006. The message? "just setting up my twttr" at 9:56 p.m. PST>
11: Open to the Public
Initially "twttr" was only used internally by those connected with the project. On July 15 2006, Twitter made its inaugural public appearance and set the winds of change in motion.
10: You're Fired!
A team of Odeo members, led by Dorsey, formed Obvious Corporation which took over Odeo and Twitter. Dorsey fired Glass. We wonder if he tweeted it to him.
9: South by Southwest
Twitter had an okay reception from the public. However, the tipping point come during a South by Southwest conference when average daily tweets shot up from 20,000 to 60,000. Those 60 inch plasma screens solely featuring tweets in the conference halls probably had something to do with it.
8: Fame Mongering
Twitter received the Web Award at that same conference. The remark "We'd like to thank you in 140 characters or less" was the beginning of world domination.
7: Out of this World Tweet
Twitter knows no boundaries. An out of this world (literally) tweet was sent by NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer on January 22, 2010. The other astronauts followed suit.
6: Hello There, Mr. President
Adam Bain became the Twitter President in August 2010. His previous position with News Corporation's FOX Audience Network was apparently overlooked.
5: The Makeover
September 14, 2010 marked the date of a complete aesthetic Twitter overhaul. After all, you have to keep things fresh to keep the fans wanting more.
4: The Best Things in Life Are Free
Unless you created Twitter. Dorsey went two rounds with venture capitalists to secure funds that backed the startup.
3: Millionnaire's Club
Of course the head honchos involved in Twitter probably can't figure out where to spend all that cash. But Twitter itself became a "millionaire" in 2008 with more than one million tweets per quarter.
2: Breaking Records
When were the most tweet tweeted, you ask? That would be during the World Cup FIFA game in 2010 when 2,940 tweets were sent per second.
1: The End of the World
The Twitter system crashed following Michael Jackson's death on June 25, 2009. 100,000 tweets per hour with the words "Michael Jackson" sent the start off in style