Twitter, Part Deux - a comparison
Christopher Carter
What do Twitter, Continental Airlines, Black & Decker and MGM Mirage have in common? They all have market valuations of $1.0B. That right, $1.0B. Key difference? Continental Airlines, Black & Decker and MGM Mirage have revenues, $15.0B, $6.0B, and $7.0B respectively. These three brand names have experienced tough times of late, but still are way ahead of Twitter when it comes to basic business model requirements, like having paying customers. The latest valuation for Twitter, $1.0B, comes nine months, that's right, 9 MONTHS, after their latest funding round that valued them at $255.0M. These investor types must have money to burn, or have been talking with Raj Rajaratnam and his "advisors" recently.
Recent rumors have Twitter in talks with both Google and Microsoft about a potential search deal, which certainly would be a start at driving revenue. I just wonder how many "Tweeters" signed up to have their Tweets searchable. Anything you folks want to remove from your Tweeting history before the world, including a potential employer, finds your Tweet in a Google search?