X introduces video and audio calls to platform

Innovation

By Ana Faguy

X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, appeared to launch a new feature Wednesday that will allow users to place video and audio calls to one another, in the latest expansion of the app since CEO Elon Musk took over a year ago this week. On Wednesday, some users began seeing a feature allowing them to make audio and video calls on X.

Key Takeaways

Some users began noticing the feature under the direct message portion of the app on Wednesday, though there was no formal announcement of the new feature.
The app says users can “take messaging to the next level” by placing an audio or video call and allows users to select whether they want to allow audio and video calls from people in their address book, people they follow or verified users.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino confirmed in August that the new feature would be coming soon, but did not specify when, adding that it would be part of the process of transitioning the platform into an “everything app.”
X did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment.

What We Don’t Know

It’s unclear if the new feature will be available to all users or only those with an X Premium membership.

Key Background

When X announced the updated feature of users being able to make calls would be coming soon, Musk took to X to explain that the feature would work on iOS, Android, Mac and PC and that having a phone number would not be needed to use the feature. Musk described the feature as turning the platform into “the effective global address book.”

Since Musk purchased the social media platform almost exactly a year ago, he’s made a number of changes to the features. Over the summer, Musk announced the platform would no longer allow users to block accounts. Musk also created the paid Blue subscription model which restricts the feature formerly known as Tweetdeck to Blue subscribers.