Even those who just love Twitter admit they are not sure how it helps make money online.

I think I have found a way Twitter can help you make money online!

Twitter has become a major part of online life for many bloggers.

Twitter started slow. Suddenly, a few months ago, it became very popular. So popular, that it has had many growing pains for the past few months. While some have started to look for other options, Twitter still tends to bring people back. It’s ability to use email and maybe txt messaging on phones that makes it very portable even if you do not yet own an iPhone.

Still even Twitter supporters usually admit Twitter is often a time waster.

I’ve grown to be one of them. I Twitter supporter I mean. I also admit it has been a great time waster. I enjoy the links others find or post. I found some people that I met in other places on Twitter and have been able to be notified on Twitter when they are doing a Webcast or Videocast.

I have finally found something that may help Twitter become a source of income online.

Sherman Hu of WordPress Tutorials introduced me to a Twitter client called TweetDeck. My first look at it did not impress me. Twhirl was my favorite Twitter client and at the time had more features and was a bit more refined. TweetDeck has two features, that when combined, make it and Twitter really useful.

TweetDeck allows you to group the Tweets you are following.

The defaults are groups for all, replies, and direct messages. You can group your Twitter updates any way you want. Put your personal friends in one group. Put bloggers in another group. I have one called favorites that I put those I really want to pay attention to.

TweetDeck has a search function.

This is where the real power is hidden. TweetDeck can search the Tweets you follow or it can do a global search using Summize (Twitter Search) for a keyword. While as I write this post the search only works for one word, the capability to search for phrases is coming.

These searches TweetDeck makes are placed into individual groups.

This is where you can use Twitter to make money. If you are an expert in some area, someone is looking for help in it on Twitter. You can use the search to find people that need your help. Use the opportunity to develop a relationship (business type not the other) and perhaps show how your services can help them in the future. TweetDeck makes a grouping of people that have Tweets with the keyword.

You can find the people that are looking for your help.

Instead of just randomly spamming all your followers with “special sale on mint flavored coffee today.” That just gets you unfollowed real fast. You can keep your general Twitters friendly and non-spammy. Carry on conversations.

I suggest you take a look at TweetDeck.

I think it may be one of the most useful ways to use Twitter. See if you can find a way to make money online with Twitter.

You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/shokthx

Have you found another way to use Twitter to make money online?

Share it with us in a comment.

This is something I have been wondering since the iPhone was released.

Is Apple’s practice of only allowing iPhone use with AT&T against antitrust laws?

I do not own an iPhone. I would like to, but have not been able to justify the cost (at least to my wife). Is the way the iPhone is currently being marketed against antitrust laws? I am no lawyer (thankfully) but I have seen similar situations that would seem to make the current iPhone questionable.

The industry I am familiar with is the photography industry.

There have been some interesting antitrust laws that applied to the photo  industry. Yet, the iPhone and many newer products and industries are far more restrictive to the consumer. I feel that Apple may be currently acting much worse than Microsoft.

I was amazed to find out how antitrust laws applied in the photo industry.

Did you know that a film manufacturer could not include film processing with a roll of film? You could not by a roll of film with an included mailer to have the film processed by Kodak or Fuji. The mailer would have to be sold separately.

Also, manufacturers had to sell the chemicals used to process the film.

Not only could they not include the processing with the film, but they had to make the chemicals to process it available.

Compare that to the iPhone.

I buy the iPhone from Apple. I can only use it with AT&T. In fact, attempts to make it work with other services have been countered by Apple updates.

This is far worse than the typical cell phone being locked to the cell phone carrier you buy it from.

In most cases, you can still get the same phone at another cell phone provider. There is also no problem getting the phone unlocked to use with another mobile phone provider if you want.

A locked cell phone is a bit like a film company including the processing.

But Apple has gone a lot farther than just locking the iPhone. It is very difficult to do. They have made it more difficult.

So, when I read the following article about a lawsuit and antitrust, my thought was "Why has it taken so long?"

In the lawsuit — the second in as many weeks involving the iPhone — Smith alleges that Apple violated several California antitrust statutes when it tied the smart phone to AT&T and prohibited customers from using other carriers. The result, read the lawsuit, was that Smith paid too much for the iPhone.

"Apple forced plaintiff and the class members to pay substantially more for the iPhone and cell phone service than they would have paid in a competitive marketplace either for the iPhone or for AT&T’s cell phone service," read the suit.

Calif. man sues Apple over iPhone ‘bricking’

Unfortunately, Apple and the iPhone are not the only current examples typical of this practice.

Can you think of other products place similar restrictions on consumers?

BTW, I would still like to get an iPhone. I think it would be a very useful business tool. I am really interested in the calendar function as I need an easy way to keep track of appointments and set them while keeping it with me.

As always, I’d love to know how you think and feel about the subject.

You comments on the subject are highly valued.