Jul
8
Twitter Mobile
12 Days of Twitter :: Day 7
(What the heck are the 12 days of Twitter?)
We’ve talked about using Twitter with twitter.com and desktop applications. Today, let’s take a look at how you can continue the conversation even when you leave your desk and roam around the world.
SMS
To keep up with your Twitter friends on-the-go, you might want to take advantage of Twitter’s SMS Notifications, and receive a text message when someone you’re following tweets. The great thing about the service is that it’s an a la carte option. Even if you’re following 200 people, you can choose to only get text messages from 1, 7, or all 200 of those people. WARNING: Standard text messaging rates apply.
When you set up your Twitter account, go into Settings, then choose Devices. Here, you can set up your mobile phone number. It’ll give you a code and a number where you want text messages sent. Complete that step to verify your number and begin receiving messages.
If you’re already following a bunch of people, go to your following list at the top of your profile (click on “168 Following”). You’ll see each person you’re following listed with an icon beside their name that looks like a mobile phone. If it’s gray, you will NOT receive SMS alerts from that person. If it’s green, you WILL receive alerts. Click the icon to change the setting.
From here on out, when you follow someone new, you can specify whether you SMS notifications for that person immediately, rather than going back into your following list. Click on “Follow”, then choose “On” or “Off” under Device Updates.
Here are some helpful commands you can use from your mobile phone to turn updates on, off, or stop following someone.
Using SMS for Twitter Notifications
On = turns on ALL notifications on via SMS
On username = turns on notifications for just that user
Off = turns off ALL notifications on via SMS
Off username = turns off notifications for just that user
Stop/Quit = stops all phone notifications
Follow username = follows that user
Leave username = stops following that user
iPhone Apps
There are lots of iPhone apps to help keep you up to date when you can’t access your computer. Using an app means you can skip paying for SMS. There are two I love and use. Tweetie is $2.99. It’s simple and breaks up All Tweets, @Replies and DMs into tabs for easy viewing.
TweetDeck is free and syncs your Groups and Searches between your desktop app and your iPhone. The interface is beautiful, and breaks up your Tweets, @Replies and DMs into different pages rather than tabs.
UPDATE: Since I don’t use other phones, please feel free to comment below on your favorite non-iPhone mobile phone apps!
Read More
Introduction to the 12 Days of Twitter
Day 1: The Secret Code: What are all those initials and symbols?
Day 2: Use TweetDeck to Manage Conversations
Day 3: Share Your Funny Anecdotes While They’re Still Funny
Day 4: Follow Responsibly
Day 5: 3 Newbie Mistakes Made by New Tweeters
Day 6: Use Twitter Search to Connect and Find
Day 7: Twitter Mobile
Day 8: Five Awesome Things You Can Do with Twitter
Day 9: Mix it Up!
Day 10: If You’re Not a TweetDeck, You Might Be a Seesmic
Day 11: Twitter for Prizes and Profit
Day 12: Schedule Tweets in Advance
Anyone else have their favorites? Leave a comment!
