In a surprise development, X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has quietly rolled out a new feature that allows users to make audio and video calls to one another. This marks the latest expansion of the platform under the leadership of CEO Elon Musk, who took over the company approximately a year ago.
While there was no formal announcement from the company regarding this new feature, some users started noticing it within the direct message section of the app on Wednesday. This move signals a significant step forward in X’s transformation into what Musk has referred to as an “everything app.”
The app now enables users to “take messaging to the next level” by facilitating audio and video calls. Furthermore, users can customize their call settings, deciding whether they want to receive calls from contacts in their address book, people they follow, or verified users.
X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, had hinted at the introduction of this feature back in August, but she refrained from specifying a release date. It’s worth noting that X has not yet responded to inquiries from Forbes regarding this recent development.
One lingering question is whether this new feature will be available to all users or limited to those with an X Premium membership, a detail that remains undisclosed at this time.
Elon Musk, who has been driving changes within X since taking the helm, has previously revealed that this feature will be accessible on various platforms, including iOS, Android, Mac, and PC. Notably, users won’t need a phone number to utilize this calling functionality, as Musk envisions turning X into an “effective global address book.”
Under Musk’s leadership, the platform has undergone several significant alterations. Over the summer, he announced the discontinuation of user account blocking, a move that sparked conversations and debates within the X community. Additionally, Musk introduced the paid Blue subscription model, which grants Blue subscribers access to the feature formerly known as Tweetdeck.
It’s worth noting that this introduction of audio and video calling is not entirely novel in the realm of social media platforms. Competitors like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp have offered voice and video call features for years, which underscores the importance of X’s evolution under Musk’s guidance.
As X continues to expand its array of services and features, it remains to be seen how users will embrace this new addition and what further innovations may be in store for the platform in the future.