StreamBase first tried to tap into Twitter as a source of news and information in 2009, introducing an adaptor that pumped data from the social networking site into trading systems.

The new Gnip deal widens the pool of data, enabling StreamBase customers to rapidly access dozens of sources, including firehoses from Twitter, StockTwits, WordPress, Tumblr and Disqus.

The information feeds into StreamBase's real-time analytics platform for users to integrate with their applications. The connectivity will be packaged as part of the core StreamBase big data acceleration pack.

Richard Tibbetts, CTO, StreamBase, says: "The complexity and big data aspects of social data make it challenging to analyse and manage streams in real-time. Our new connectivity with Gnip makes it possible for our customers to innovate with social data to better understand their customers, followers and breaking industry news."