*UPDATED* Facebook launches great Twitter substitute - for all the family

Been away from blogging for a few days but have returned with this great find (even if I say so myself) over at Facebook.

I posted a few weeks ago about Facebook bringing a whole host of social networking tools into its site - including the Twitter-esque 'Status Updates'.

Well, it seems that as of last week that these status updates became available via RSS, mobile and through a dedicated 'Friends Updates' page pictured below.

Reading the Facebook blog it seems that Status Updates were introduced a year ago (does that pre-date Twitter?), although the latest changes have only appeared "recently". According to the blog entry, the specific changes include:

• "Your friends' three most recent updates on the home page
• A brand new page to see all your friends' updates at once
• An RSS feed to put your friends' updates in your reader of choice
• The ability to subscribe to a friend's updates via SMS
• The ability to easily update status from your phone by sending an SMS to Facebook starting with the "@" character"

To be blunt, it is Twitter - well, it is a slightly more involved version of Twitter although argubly not quite a challenge to Jaiku.

All looks great as far as I'm concerned but the big question is: what impact will this have on the likes of Jaiku or Twitter?

From a technical perspective probably not a lot - both tools perform the same basic function but from a community point of view I think Facebook's new offerings may have an impact on Twitter's use.

I mean I use Twitter - not a lot, but I do and furthermore I like it. Similarly I use Facebook - more than Twitter - but for different purposes and I love it.

Most of my Twitter contacts (blogger/techy/work contacst) are also on Facebook but very few of my Facebook contacts (purely social/old school/university/work contacts) are on Twitter.

It stands then, that if I wanted a tool that gives me live updates of what all my contacts are up to at any given time then it has to be the Facebook offering - by far and away.

Where Jaiku fits into this I'm not quite sure....

*UPDATED* For the time being this service looks set to the US. Trying to find out when it heads our way.

Technorati tags: Facebook; status+updates; Twitter; Jaiku

Comments

[Ian Delaney]

Have you been able to do any mobile stuff on Facebook? It thinks I am from the US.

I've noticed a blog malaise from all the usual UK suspects. Stiff upper lip, lads, it's just a shower.

[Simon Collister]

Er... admittedly, no. But if it is still set to the US it'd be no worse than Twittervision! I sent the Mark Slee from Facebook a message to see who they've partnered with to offer the service. I'll let oyu know once/if he gets back to me.

[Alex]

I'm in exactly the same position-significantly more contacts on Facebook, and higher personal usage, making it potentially a more straightforward choice than Twitter for me.

Do blog when/if you find out when they'll be launching mobile status updating here as opposed to just browsing.

[Ian Green]

I'm still struggling with Facebook. I still don't get Twitter but it does work for me