Twitter valued at $11bn as IPO rumours spread

Reports hint firm may go public in 2014 as value leaps after Apple interest

Social networking site Twitter has been valued at $11bn (£6.8bn) by analysts as the IPO rumour mill goes into overdrive.

According to Forbes' website, a report by IPO watcher Greencrest Capital suggests Twitter's preparations for its public debut may begin this year, with an offering set to come in 2014.

Speculation is rife that Apple is interested in acquiring the company, which sent its valuation northwards.

Twitter chairman Jack Dorsey said last year that Twitter would IPO "When [we] feel the company is ready for that milestone".

The social networking platform is popular with celebrities, non-celebrities and businesses alike, with CRN recently releasing a Top 50 Channel Tweeters list (based on the most entertaining tweets in 2012) over the Christmas period.