UK entreprenuer Colin Gilchrist has developed Tweetabits, effectively a Tweet-deck style interface layered over Twitter search.
Developed for a franchise with 56 offices across the UK (which he won’t name) the issue was that they didn’t want those offices competing over tweet responses to customers. Actually this isn’t such a bad idea. Who wants to subscribe to Zappos (the legend in the Twitter customer services area) and see every customer service response they have to every schmuck with a problem with their shoes?
The version you can see displayed is only only providing results for Tweets sent from Edinburgh (assuming peiople have bothered to make this clear in their settings of course – millions of people have their Twitter location set to the default Hawaii).
But here’s the best bit. Each user £495 with a support contract – if required – which delivers consultancy on best use and providing statistical data on use and interaction. “Support” is a word which sets alarm bells suddenly ringing in terms of scaling this thing.
Gilchrist says it’s “an easier way for those less familiar with twitter search to deliver location specific columns of results that they can track.”
Indeed it is but perhaps a customise version of Tweedeck could easily put paid to this idea? Your thoughts in the comments below.