The concept is simple: Users sign up for an account, collect followers and build out their own network of Twitterers worth following. When a person "tweets" a message, all of his followers instantly receive it on their phones or computers. Those followers can choose to forward -- or "retweet" -- the message, and so on, and so on.

Companies, brands and individuals are using this tool in numerous ways to create a network and promote their ideas, products or updates. Some Twitters actually use the tweets as a instant perception gage of its customers/followers. Regardless of the manner in which its being, Twitter has transferred from the next big thing to the must have addition to your social network.

Here are some examples of companies using Twitter!

Comcast uses it as a quasi helpline, listening for Twitter users who have an issue with the company and then reaching out to see how it can help. In doing so, its Twitter evangelist, Frank Eliason, has started to markedly shift the poor customer-service perceptions that the company has battled for years.

The National Basketball Association provides its 140,000 followers, amassed in just two months, with up-to-the-minute news and updates.

Two years ago almost no one knew about Twitter. Today John Mayer, Shaquille O'Neal and PTwitty or as your know him as PDiddy are among the 6 million people with Twitter profiles.

In my past life, I was a promoter and whether you know this or not social networking is a make or break tool in the realm of promotions and especially nightlife promotions. As a promoter, I remember being one of the first to do so on Facebook and Myspace. Promoters are essentially exploiters of social media, creating and establishing a network and then harnessing its control for monetary benifits. It sounds harsh but that's what brands do once they develop a metrics and can gain credible ROI.

I'm going to end by saying, if you wanna stay with the "New" regarding a particular market, follow that promoter that utilizes that similar market and harness their particular methods of social networking. Check out some DC & Maryland guys in action - http://twitter.com/DJKI, http://twitter.com/djgoldenboy as they extend their network from emails, to Facebook groups, to text messaging and to Twitter.