Twitter closes 2009 with a profit

Like many social media startups, three-year-old Twitter focused early on adding subscribers rather than generating revenue. That's left many analysts and investors wondering how and whether the company—often cited as a candidate for an initial public offering or acquisition—would make money. Twitter co-founder Biz Stone declined to comment on the company's finances, but wrote in an e-mail that the company is proud of the work it accomplished in 2009. "We're thrilled about the partnerships we've formed this year and we're looking forward to opening Twitter even more in the future," Stone wrote.