Twitter News - U.S. State Department Tweets Iranians

U.S. State Department Tweets Iranians
Monday, February 14th, 2011 - VOA

The U.S. State Department has begun sending Twitter messages to Iran in the local language, Farsi, in hopes of reaching Iranians who use social media.

On the Twitter account USA darFarsi, the State Department tells Iranians, “We want to join in your conversation.”

In later tweets, it accuses the Iranian government of quashing opposition while praising Egyptians for doing the same thing.

The State Department also calls on Tehran to allow Iranians to “enjoy the same universal rights” of assembly and protest as the people in Egypt.

Last week, the State Department launched Twitter feeds in Arabic.

The account had more than 135 followers within hours of its launch.



U.S. State Department Tweets Iranians
Article from VOA

Google - New 'Tweet' Service for Egypt

Google Announces New 'Tweet' Service for Egypt
VOA News February 01, 2011

The Internet search engine Google says it has launched a service designed to help people in Egypt send Twitter messages, in spite of the government's efforts to limit Internet access.

Google says it worked with a "small team of engineers" last weekend to come up with service that allows people to "tweet" by phone.

Google says with its so-called "speak-to-tweet service," users dial an international phone number and leave a voicemail message. It says the service translates the voicemail into a written message that is sent on Twitter.

In a Monday statement, Google says it hopes the service will "go some way to helping people in Egypt stay connected" during what it calls a "very difficult time."

In recent days, Egypt has taken a number of steps to limit communication between anti-government protesters who have been gathering in large rallies, calling for the resignation of President Honsi Mubarak.

An unprecedented Internet cutoff remains in place in the country, Tuesday.

Separately, Google says its head of marketing for the Middle East and North Africa is missing in Egypt.

The company says Wael Ghonim has been missing since last week. His wife has launched an appeal for information on his whereabouts.


Google Announces New 'Tweet' Service for Egypt
Article from VOA