An alternative to Twitter has existed since 2008. It's called identi.ca
The issue is getting people to start using such a service.
The issue is getting people to start using such a service.
In this very same thread people are mentioning that an open, distributed system is needed or that they'Will contribute by code and kind'.
And identi.ca is not even mentioned in the article.
Disclaimer: Im not trying to be offensive through other posters. They may simply not know about identi.ca. But that proves my point even more. Twitter and app.net have been discussed so much in the past few weeks. Identi.ca barely got any attention.
This is like saying Wordpress.com is the alternative to Blogger. The alternative is the software which runs the site.
Most importantly, this software needs to speak a standardized protocol. Luckily, this protocol exists -- it is called OStatus.
I'm hopeful to see app.net take off, but have been unable to find any arguments/discussions talking about how app.net will succeed where DIASPORA failed.
(Ignoring the obvious of having a better name, of course!)
Coupled with a lot of negative sentiments that Twitter users and developers feel might make it an interesting story in the tech press. Diaspora had a lot of press when they first started but they couldn't live up to the promise.
In this case it would be easier to live up to the promise because most of the client code already exists. It would largely be a case of clients adding new endpoints to the frontend and abstracting the rendering functions.
It would also be super easy for users to import their Twitter profile into a new system. Just enter a Twitter username and you could easily get the bio & avatar. Very low cost of transfer. If the press pushed it, and it was so easy to move over, it would have a chance IMHO.
I should also point out I don't think app.net has this opportunity, I think it could only happen for a truly free non-profit system.