Slashdot Mirror
Twitter Gets Satellite Access
jimboh2k writes "Satellite operators Iridium and Thuraya have signed on to provide access for Twitter users outside of normal mobile coverage. The service acts like the SMS function already available on the social network, allowing users to tweet during emergencies."
Clearly that kind of information is only relevant for your closest friends. So you are indeed right, slashdot is not the right medium. Instead you should do like one of my friends did and post it to facebook instead.
In many cases it's been a very useful tool for warning others about impending emergencies, or about letting the outside world know what's going on. It may not get you the help you need but it could save others from having to do the same.
Meta-whoosh!
I tried hard to be cynical about this, but really it's a pretty good match. Twitter's enforced lo-fi nature makes it a perfect format for a high cost per bit medium like satellite, but it's used in bulk enough to justify access plans with moderate usage instead of trying to milk corporate customers for $1/packet or something. Perhaps the constellation operators have finally found their market.
Will this allow people in $DICTATORSHIP to stay connected even when their government has blocked normal internet access?
XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve your problem, you're not using enough of it. --AC