It works like this. You send an sms-type message (from a phone or computer) to Twitter. This is distributed to friends and followers you have nominated or acquired. They receive the message on their phone or computer. It is even possible to post the messages from you and your group of friends into a website. We've done just that here.

Seems like another IM program until you consider the social networking dimension. Then it looks more interesting as a tool. For example, the author (me) is in a twitter peer group of geeks. When I get stuck with code etc., it's easier to ask my friends to refer me to a solution than to Google search it. Why? because they have already done the hard yards with the search, trialled the solution and figured out whether it's the best method.

Perhaps the twits are brighter than we thought?

To take a look what they're up to, try the amazing 'Twittervision'