Elon Musk’s X, previously known as Twitter, has just introduced audio and video calling features exclusively for premium Android users.As this feature was already launched in October 2023 on iOS.
This move is part of Musk’s vision to transform X into an “everything app,” offering a comprehensive user experience.
However, there is one requirement to use this feature, users must subscribe to X Premium that costs $8 per month for the basic use and $16 for Premium+ to make calls. On the other hand, receiving calls is free for all users.
The feature allows users to make private audio or video calls directly within the X app. While the convenience of calling X users from the app itself might appeal to some, the requirement for a Premium subscription has raised questions about its popularity among the X community.
One notable drawback is that only the user initiating the call needs to be a Premium subscriber, while any user can receive calls regardless of their subscription status.
This feature could potentially lead to a surge in spam and scams, as users might be hesitant to share contact information with strangers.
The rollout is currently in progress for Android users, and the timeline for completion remains uncertain.
X Premium subscriptions start at $3 per month for the “Basic” use, but details about which subscription level grants outbound video and audio calling are not clearly mentioned in X’s Help Center.
To control who can call them, users can navigate to Settings > Privacy and Safety > Direct Messages > Enable Audio and Video Calling.
This feature allows users to restrict incoming calls to people in their address book, users they follow, or those with verified blue ticks.
X is making a move to get more people to subscribe to its Premium service by limiting outgoing calls to Premium subscribers only. This decision seems to be a way for X to bring in new subscribers, especially when they are facing difficulties with ad sales. This fits with X’s past strategy of offering extra features, like Tweetdeck and sharing ad revenue, to attract users.
However, it’s worth noting that not all recent changes have been positive. Some perks, like NFT profile pictures, have been taken away recently. Despite this, X is pushing forward with its plan to encourage more users to sign up for Premium by making certain features exclusive to premium subscribers.
As X continues to evolve into a multifaceted platform, the introduction of audio and video calling aims to enhance user interactions, although its success and widespread adoption remain to be seen in the coming months.