Twitter takes aim at video, acquires video clip service Vine

The latest company that messaging social network Twitter has acquired is the video service Vine, which never launched to the public.

The move supports rumors that Twitter is working on its own in-house video hosting service that could eventually replace third-party options, such as TwitVid, Posterous, and Mobypicture.

The New York-based Vine launched back in June and only has three employees, whom will presumably all join Twitter. Vine’s service is focused on people capturing short video clips that can then be shared via their iPhone. The company’s splash page also explains that videos don’t require editing, rendering, or post-production, meaning it could offer camera filters or an easy way to pluck only the best portions from a clip.

AllthingsD, which first reported news of the acquisition, indicated that Vine could still launch as a standalone service rather than simply getting integrated into Twitter. If true, Vine could face heavy competition from Viddy, Keek, and plenty of others.

We’re reaching out to both Twitter and Vine for confirmation about the sale and will update this post with any new information.