COMPANIES in Singapore like concert promoter LAMC Productions, which is bringing in British act Kaiser Chiefs, are jumping on the microblogging bandwagon.

Besides the usual e-mail bulletins and updates, companies are using microblogging site Twitter to gather quick feedback and promote their latest products and services.

Twitter allows users to describe what they are doing in real-time in less than 140 characters through SMSes, the Web or instant messaging.

Concert promoter LAMC Productions started using Twitter just over two weeks ago to promote its upcoming events. It also has a Facebook group account with more than 2,000 members, mainly made up of those who went for previous acts the company had brought in.

Though it has only 57 Twitter followers so far, promotions manager Andre Alabons told my paper that he was confident the online community will jump on the Twitter bandwagon eventually. 'It has the potential to be the next big thing in Singapore,' the 29-year-old said. Marketing Magazine, which covers marketing and advertising news in Asia, has a Twitter following of more than 1,000, despite opening the account only about a month ago.

Its Singapore editor, Mr John Davidson, told my paper that most of its Twitter followers are readers of the magazine, who are mainly marketing and advertising professionals from Singapore and Hong Kong.

'Twitter is a good tool of communication between us and our readers because they tweet regularly,' said Mr Davidson, 27. He uses Twitter to update readers to breaking news and share 'short and snappy' news opinions and analysis.

Other businesses see Twitter as a way to keep their business partners in the loop about what they are doing.

bloomerang, a company which specialises in producing environmentally-friendly hangers called bloomerHangs, said it has been using Twitter since the company started eight months ago. This is an example of what it tweets about: 'Fruitful meeting with a big launderer. They will be distributing bloomerHang in the not-too-distant future!'

Company director Wong Joon Ian, 27, said: 'Twitter is a convenient way to update our distributors and advertisers on what the company does on a daily basis. This promotes transparency.' Said Mr Davidson: 'It's only a matter of time before Twitter takes off in Singapore.' -- MY PAPER