The growing strain between Twitter and UberMedia, creators of some of the most popular Twitter clients, could result in UberMedia launching its own messaging rival to Twitter, it has emerged.
UberMedia is planning to launch a social network that could compete with Twitter, according to CNN.
The company makes popular apps like UberSocial, Echofon and Twidroyd that allow users to access their Twitter feeds.
However, in recent months, relations between Twitter and UberMedia have become strained. In February, Twitter shut out three of UberMedia’s apps because they violated Twitter company policies and UberMedia had to change the name of its popular UberTwitter app to UberSocial.
Last month, Twitter wrote a memo to third-party developers discouraging them from developing client apps that show a conventional list of messages from followers.
It is believed that UberMedia, aware of the widening gulf between it and Twitter, is developing a social networking engine as a backup plan if the relationship becomes untenable.
UberMedia’s technology accounts for 11.5pc of tweets sent via Twitter daily and UberSocial is the third most popular way to send tweets after Twitter’s own website and iPhone app.
It is understood that UberMedia is seeking to acquire TweetDeck, the fourth most popular method to access Twitter.
What will UberMedia’s Twitter rival look like?
It is understood that UberMedia will strive to address the issues that users most find fault with Twitter.
These issues include restrictions on the length of messages, ease of use and sociability.
If UberMedia succeeds in acquiring TweetDeck it would get its hands on a useful tool for extending the length of messages called Deck.ly. TweetDeck’s engine also requires users to sign up for an account that is separate from their standard Twitter monicker.
It remains to be seen if UberMedia will press ahead with its social network. But if it does it will be good news for developers who would welcome a new platform to serve.
