Elon Musk announced on Thursday that X (formerly Twitter) will soon feature the integration of audio and video calls. These capabilities are set to work seamlessly across Android, iOS, PC, and Mac devices. Remarkably, the communication can take place without requiring a phone number, as confirmed by Musk.
Musk took to X to share the news, stating, “Video & audio calls coming to X: – Works on iOS, Android, Mac & PC – No phone number needed – X is the effective global address book …That set of factors is unique.” Despite the reveal, Musk has not disclosed a specific launch date for these features.
Hints about these features emerged in July through the platform’s designer, Andrew Conway, who showcased screenshots demonstrating the functionality in action. In these images, audio and video call options are prominently placed in the top left corner of the Direct Message screen.
The incorporation of audio and video calls aligns with Musk’s broader vision of transforming X into an “everything app.” Musk has frequently positioned himself as a rival to Mark Zuckerberg, the head of Meta, and is determined to expand the scope of X.
In a recent X post earlier this month, Musk candidly remarked, “The unfortunate reality is that the current landscape lacks remarkable ‘social networks.’ While many predict our failure, we will endeavor to create at least one exceptional option.”
On August 25, X shared updates about enhancements to audio and video capabilities on the platform. These improvements include permitting premium subscribers to share extended videos lasting up to 2 hours, enhancing the quality of live broadcasts from mobile devices, introducing an immersive video player for Android and iOS, and enabling users to speak and co-host Spaces on the web with support for millions of participants.
