Elon Musk announces integration of audio and video calls in ‘X’, taking steps toward becoming an “Everything App”

Los Angeles:  Following recent takeover and renaming of Twitter as X, tech magnate Elon Musk has now unveiled plans to introduce audio and video call features to the platform. The announcement, made on Thursday, is yet another step in Musk’s vision to transform X into an expansive, multifunctional digital hub.

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.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 31, 2023

The integration of audio and video calls will mark a significant expansion of X’s capabilities. Compatible with Android, iOS, and Mac, these calls are set to be unique in that they can be made without requiring a phone number, according to Musk. While a specific launch date for these features has not been provided by Musk, it’s clear that the company is actively working towards enhancing the user experience.

This move comes after X’s designer, Andrew Conway, hinted at the introduction of such a feature back in July. Screenshots shared by Conway a month ago showcased the audio and video call options prominently positioned in the top left corner of the Direct Message (DM) screen.

The inclusion of audio and video calls is in line with Musk’s broader ambition to expand X’s offerings and position it as an “everything app.” This vision places him in direct competition with Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, as Musk seeks to make X a comprehensive platform catering to various digital needs.

In a recent X post earlier this month, Musk expressed his view on the current state of social networks, stating, “The sad truth is that there are no great ‘social networks’ right now. We may fail, as so many have predicted, but we will try our best to make there be at least one”. This determination underpins his commitment to transforming X into a platform that serves as a more engaging and useful online space for users.

On August 25, X shared additional updates regarding its ongoing efforts to enhance the user experience. These updates included premium subscribers’ ability to post longer videos of up to 2 hours, improved live broadcasting quality from mobile devices, an immersive video player for Android and iOS, and the ability to speak in and co-host a Space on the web with support for millions of participants.