Twitter Tuesday rolled out an online application process for verified accounts, giving individuals and organizations the chance to join the social network?s nearly 187,000 accounts with the blue badge icon.
Verified accounts launched on Twitter in 2009, but there was previously no way for account holders to request verification.
Twitter said the verification application will be available globally later this week, offering as examples of potential verified accounts those in categories such as music, television, film, fashion, government, politics, religion, journalism, media, sports and business.
More information is available via Twitter?s Help Center, which stated that necessary information includes:

Verified phone number
Confirmed email address
Biography Profile photo
Birthday (for accounts for people, not companies, brands or organizations)
Website URL
Tweets set to public

The Help Center page also listed the following characteristics Twitter is seeking in determining whether to verify an account:

If the account belongs to a person, the name reflects the real or stage name of the person.
If the account is a corporation or company account, the name reflects the real name of the corporation or company.
The profile and/or header photo reflects the person, the corporation?s branding or the company?s branding.
If the account is a corporate or company account, the email address associated with the account is a corporate or company email address.

Finally, the social network ...