Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) agitated app developers a couple of years ago because it tightened up the rules around applications that plug into the social-media service. The micro-blogging giant now wants to revive its relationship with developers, and has come up with an exciting opportunity. The company plans to host its first developer conference in four years to try and bring a more diverse set of app makers into the fold.
Twitter to give developers better tools
Citing people familiar with the matter, a report from the Wall Street Journal claims that Twitter may announce a new suite of tools on Wednesday making it possible for the programmers to build apps easily. Mobile developers in general have to face several issues such as dealing with bugs, tracking analytics and making money. To address these issues, Twitter is expected to offer a new app-development platform called ‘Fabric.’ Twitter had acquired the Boston-based mobile crash-reporting tool Crashlytics in 2013, and their offerings will be included in the tool.
“If you start by offering services that are globally interesting to mobile developer…, you can build a better relationship with more developers,” says Ryan Sarver, a partner at venture-capital firm Redpoint Ventures and Twitter Inc’s former director of platforms.
Apps vital for social platforms
Almost all the technology platforms including Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) and Facebook are highly dependent on developers to build apps. Facebook acquired a large number of players/users because of the social games developed by Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA).
Moreover, services on Twitter have gained usability because of the thousands of apps. These apps allow the users to shorten web links, post photos and also use the smartphone to access the service. The developers’ conference to be announced Wednesday will not be for the purpose of encouraging the developers to build apps on Twitter itself. Instead, Twitter execs will discuss more general topics such as basics of app development t the conference.
Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) has had a somewhat rocky relationship with developers in the past, and hence, building goodwill is a high priority for the company. The micro-blogging company is likely trying to bring developers in with its free to use app development tools, as new apps will certainly generate revenues for the firm in the long run.
