There’s something alluring about the idea of a message in a bottle. You write something, cast it out to sea, and hopefully someday some random person finds it. Naturally, someone had to do that for Twitter.
As a Twitter app, 140inABottle is as simple as they come. On the page, you’re presented with a 140-character space to write whatever you want. You’re not asked to sign in to Twitter to send it, because it will be sent from the 140inabottle Twitter account. The only thing you have to do is complete a reCAPTCHA to ensure you’re a human and not spamming the system.
Once you fill out and cast away your tweet, it goes into 140inABottle’s system for the next 1 to 90 days. That’s the key; just like a message in a bottle in the sea, the tweet won’t be delivered immediately, but rather at a random date in the next three months when it finds “land” (the tweet stream).
But here’s the kicker: Your tweet (which is again, anonymous and being sent from the 140inabottle Twitter account) will be directed at someone completely random. Essentially, they will have “found” your tweet in a bottle and get to read it. To some people this will undoubtedly be extremely annoying, but come on, it’s one tweet, and kind of cool. I can’t wait to see the reactions on Twitter which will undoubtedly include things like, “@140inabottle why are you sending me random messages?”
There have been a few other anonymous tweet services, but most have been based around the idea that you can say evil things and get away with it. This is different. That said, I’m sure people will figure out how to game this to be dumbasses anonymously. It’s not hard, just include an @reply in your 140inABottle tweet and the person you’re directing it to will see it as well.
The service is the brainchild of New York-based techster Sam Bensalem. He told us that he drew inspiration for it from Kevin Costner’s 1999 movie Message In A Bottle. We’ll pretend he didn’t say that and instead said the inspiration came from The Police song.
Someone should message them to fix the typo. I don’t’ want my message to be in the ’see’ hahahaha
I’m going to use this with my site that I have wired with http://www.tweetiator.com so that I can see who tweets my links. Maybe not a typo
Hhaha, he drew inspiration from the 1999 movie “Message in a bottle.” But that movie wouldn’t even exist if it wasn’t for the Police song. They glorified messages in bottles like nobody’s business.
Seems you’re not alone at being alone.
Hah, this is awesome! I just asked for 30 million dollars and posted my non-spam email address
may your wishes come true.
Wonderful concept!
*facepalm*
I second the *facepalm*. I can’t believe that people have this much time on their hands. Is there really a practical use for this code so that this is just the funny off shoot?
Bottled Tweets! Quick, somebody patent it!
Kevin Costner is the Man, you take that back!
Water world is one of my favorite movies. (i know)
hahahaha wow.
I really wonder if it’s better than my twitter site???
What’s the ultimate use of it?Has it benefited anybody?
Does everything need a use or benefit? Can we not just do things for the sake of it? For the enjoyment and intrigue?
I’m going to pretend I didn’t read this comment and listened to a song by the Police instead.
Someone already made this months ago for google wave.
And I’m sure that all 12 of the people using Google Wave appreciated it.
You mean the 4 people outside of google?
More fuel for ADD!
What a useless service….
But this will be acquired for a 5 dollar foot long.
is that an offer?
This is a great idea if it can be tied to contests from companies. This can be a very fun “game show” type app where the first to respond to this bottled message wins the prize.
Take the idea further guys, there is something here.
Awesome. Bring on the anonymous Internet slander!
hahahaha. What a joke of a startup….
What is next?
Message in a Ziploc?
Bought the domain. Launching next Tuesday. Thank you, sir.
It’s just like yahoo email time capsule! with little modification
LETS Get married message that will deliver to the same gender.
asked for 30 million dollars to a person looking for a JOB. Awwwwwww.
Hope it will deliver to the right peson…
The most depressing moment comes when you receive your own tweet back.
From yourself in the future…..
This is cool. It can add some fun to twitter…
Douchebag in a bottle….
The founder hopefully will fit….