Facebook, before becoming one of the most successful Internet companies traded in the market, did what no other company did before it. It gave money to start-ups to build apps for Facebook users. This tactic has proven to be very successful in sustaining and monetizing visitors on the social networking site.

Now, an unlisted firm and its financial backer are taking the same path in an attempt to replicate the success of Mark Zuckerberg's site. Twilio, the internet telephony company, is now encouraging software developers to build applications using its voice over internet protocol or VOIP system. The core business of the company is the use of cloud based technology to digitize call centers and provide text capabilities online. In providing a financial incentive for the app makers, Twilio is banking to create a new generation of creators that would use the technology while at the same time provide Twilio a base to cull possible improvements for its services.