iOS 5 Twitter Integration: Opportunities For All Parties

Apple has implemented a bunch of neat things in iOS 5. iCloud integration, the revamped notification center, over the air updates, and iOS 5’s to do list feature are all very exciting. Apple did manage to score a major win with social media junkies by deeply integrating Twitter into iOS 5. Twitter is currently not as popular as Facebook. While the company is strong and has a superb community behind it, it is not pursuing world domination as strongly as Facebook has been for the past several months. The move is a big opportunity for Twitter as it will allow the social network to have a more significant presence in the mobile world:

Overall the big thing for us is the combination of two big platforms… And we’re complementary to each other. Twitter from day one has been a mobile-friendly company — that was a part of Jack’s [Dorsey] original vision. So to pair up with Apple on this is a great opportunity… The main point in my mind is that if you’re making an app for iOS and you’re not thinking about Twitter, you’re really missing an opportunity,

said Twitter’s head of platform Ryan Sarver to TechCrunch. Apple seems to have realized its limitations when it comes to putting a social network together. It is not in the business of social media as that is not one of its core competencies. Many have asked, why not Facebook?  Facebook is arguably a more complicated platform to implement into iOS. Besides, Facebook wants much more control over experience and data.

Facebook is not completely out of the game. Even though it is not exactly friends with Apple, the opportunity is always there for both companies to get together and do business if Twitter integration is successful. Things could become more difficult if Facebook releases a phone though.

How will Twitter integration work?  nick448844@YouTube has put together a video demonstrating how easy it is to tweet things from an iOS 5 powered device. Tweets can be sent from Maps application, Safari, and many other places. One has to wonder if this is end game for third party Twitter clients.

How would you like Apple to improve Twitter integration?