So far, the only sign of anyone giving money to Twitter was the recent debut of , a Microsoft-sponsored site that , as part of Microsoft's "People-Ready" campaign. Twitter gets a cut of the income from Microsoft.

But the site, launched by online advertising network Federated Media, hardly seems like the debut of a solid, profitable business model for Twitter. Nor does , which attempts to sell ad placements directly into the streams of Twitter users. Neither idea has caught fire compared to Web banner ads, or to Google's dual advertising schemes, and .

Twitter Investor Fred Wilson, of Union Square Ventures, offered this vision to the Journal:

Twitter will make money by "following the money," or building on the ways that others are developing businesses based on the service.

But Wilson and Stone both declined to give the Journal any details about possible for-a-fee Twitter services. They also declined to say when the premium offerings might be available.