The Twitter account management app TweetDeck has been bought by Twitter outright.

According to TechCrunch the move comes as no surprise considering 13 percent of all tweets are sent from TweetDeck, and in the race to monetise tweets - something that hasn't yet successfully happened - Twitter couldn't afford to lose such a large user-base to a competitor.

Twitter announced the acquisition on its blog today, calling the move an "important step forward".

"TweetDeck is a great example of a third-party developer that designed tools for the incredibly important audience of Twitter power-users and, in turn, created value for the network as a whole. As [TweetDeck founder Iain Dodsworth's] journey suggests, there is significant opportunity for developers who deliver insights that foster a more engaged Twitter user base."

TweetDeck issued its own statement on its blog.

"The mainstream Twitter user-base is well catered for by twitter.com and the official mobile clients. And by becoming part of the official platform, TweetDeck will now fill that role for brands, influencers, the highly active and anyone that just needs 'more power'."