I’m running the Micro-blogging Olympics, which is really just an experiment with three separate micro-blogging services. The Twitter service has the largest user base out of all three. I’ve been active in the Twitter community longer. You can update Twitter from your mobile phone, from their website, and from third party software applications. I’ve compiled a few applications that can help you stay connected to your followers and those you’re following.

Services

1. TwitterFeed - Ever wonder how bloggers always link to their site through Twitter? It’s probably an automated service like TwitterFeed pushing their content to your doorstep.
   
2. Ping.fm - Update Twitter along with many, many other social networking sites all from the same website. It includes Pownce and Plurk, so I’m signing up now. Update: beta code needed…argh.

Desktop Twitter Applications

1. Yakkle - Kind of like a cackle, but a yakkle. You getit, right? Download, integrate with Twitter and other IMs, roar on the scene.
2. Twhirl - Recently purchased by Seesmic, an Adobe Air app that allows you to update Twitter, Pownce, and Jaiku. Hooray for multi-use software!
3. Twitterific - Own a mac? Get this lightweight desktop app for your Twittering needs.
4. gTwitter - Running Linux? Try this Twitter client.

Plugins for Firefox

1. TwitterFox - A plugin for Firefox which makes interacting on Twitter so much easier, if you’re on your browser all day long. You can customize how often it checks for updates, makes replying much easier, and doesn’t use up any screen space when not in use.
2. TwitterBar- No they don’t stock martinis in this TwitterBar, but you can add it to FF 2 or 3 for easy twitting action.