When Michael van Poppel started his Twitter feed two years ago, the 19-year-old Dutchman never expected things to get so big.  After all, his company, BNO News, was started as a hobby way back in May 2007.  Now, with more than 1.5 million subscribers and growing daily, the Breaking News Twitter feed has changed from a lark into a full-fledged business, with BNO News Wire set to launch in January 2010 with MSNBC as its first client.  Instead of just writing news Tweets, Van Poppel’s company will be a full fledged wire service.

Part of me loves these stories.  A teenager grasping some new technology before everyone else makes it big just because he believes and works his behind off.  It’s the American dream, but being lived out by a Dutchman for a multinational media empire!  Then again, part of me hates this story because I’m jealous nobody wants to buy or use the PopFi Twitter feed for anything.  Come on, Microsoft!  I want to sell out, too!

Image: Wired UK

Tags: Microsoft, MSNBC, Twitter, Breaking News, Microsoft takes over teen’s Twitter, Michael van Poppel, BNO News Wire

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