So how does Twitter start earning some of this money back?
Ads are the obvious answer, but is that enough considering their massive SMS/API-only usage that wouldn't see ads?
Some kind of Pro version? (I suppose it could remove the API restrictions, but it seems to me like there would need to be more value there than just more API calls and more tweets per call.)
It seems problematic to charge for the basic functionality of something so simple; there are plenty of Twitter competitors that offer what Twitter does and more, still for free. (coughpownceahem)
They could charge for expanded functionality (again, removing API and SMS limitations, and possibly additional features), but I don't think they can take away what they've already given for free for so long, and I have to wonder how many people need more than what's already free so much as to pay for it.
I agree they should be very careful, otherwise they could be looking at a mass exodus. However, I think that with how popular they are, they could get away with a reasonable fee.
Ads are the obvious answer, but is that enough considering their massive SMS/API-only usage that wouldn't see ads?
Some kind of Pro version? (I suppose it could remove the API restrictions, but it seems to me like there would need to be more value there than just more API calls and more tweets per call.)
Combination thereof?