Hictu.com - A Twitter Rival

While Twitter dominates the microblogging arena, Hictu is looking to gain some precious ground. The light communication blog site lets members get in touch by providing status updates on various IM and VoIP services—think MSN, Skype, ICQ, etc. Rather than having to write laborious and long emails, Hictu members can communicate instantaneously without wasting a minute. To get started, import all your contacts from Outlook and choose who you want to include on your Hictu list. Control your presence status so your contacts can connect with you at your leisure; create a micro-blog with posts, links and a profile. Hictu is accessible from any mobile device. Their latest offering is video posting. Rather than simply writing a text update, you can include a little film clip. Hictu automatically detects your webcam so all you have to do is click record and stop. Other features include, feed updates and contact presence management.

“Through a light and easy to use interface, Hictu is the tool by which you can get in touch with your co-workers, friends, customers, vendors, etc, by seeing their status in several different IM and VoIP communities (such as MSN, Yahoo!, AIM, ICQ, Jabber, Skype, Abbeyphone, and many others).”

Twitter’s popularity means there is a huge audience dying for micro-blogging. While Twitter remains the giant, Hictu’s incorporation of video posts is important. Other blogs are sure to copy. The easy availability of video posting, will no doubt make it very popular. Hictu’s mobile services also make on the go updates very convenient. Over all, Hictu looks like it may prove to be a major Twitter rival.

Will microblogging prove to be just a passing fad? Will users tire of constant presence awareness? Is there a need for another microblogging service? Is video posting too cumbersome for a light communication blog?