The calling features would work on iOS, Android, Mac and PC versions of X, and no phone number would be needed, he said at the time. (AFP)

Elon Musk previews audio and video calling capabilities at X

Adriana MaraisOctober 26, 23 Elon Musk, Twitter

According to a post made by owner Elon Musk on Wednesday, X is experimenting with video and audio calling on the platform previously referred to as Twitter.

“Early version of video and voice calling on X,” Musk wrote in the post, which included a screenshot showing how to enable the feature from the platform’s settings.

The screenshot showed options for allowing audio and voice calls to users in the user’s address book, to all verified users, and to people they “follow” on the service.

However, several users responded to Musk’s post saying they didn’t see the feature in their app, which also didn’t appear in the version tested by AFP.

The tycoon announced in August that voice and video calling were in the works for X, which was seen as a step towards turning the former Twitter into an “everything app”.

The calling features would work on iOS, Android, Mac and PC systems, and no phone number would be required, he said at the time.

“X is a powerful global address book,” the billionaire added.

Musk renamed Twitter X in July and said it would become an “everything app” inspired by China’s WeChat, allowing users to socialize and manage their finances.

Since Musk bought Twitter last October, the platform’s ad business has collapsed as marketers suffered from his management style and mass firings that curbed content moderation.

In response, Tycoon has moved to building a subscriber base and a pay model in search of new revenue.

Voice and video calls are expected to be features offered to X subscribers.

Indeed, many users and advertisers have reacted negatively to the site’s new fees for previously free services, as well as its changes to content control and the reinstatement of previously banned far-right accounts.

Musk also killed the Twitter logo and replaced it with the globally recognized blue bird with a white X.

On Tuesday, several users responded to Musk’s post saying they didn’t see the feature in their app, which also didn’t appear in the version tested by AFP.