Elon Musk’s ambitious plan to transform X into an all-in-one “everything app” has taken a new stride with the introduction of audio and video calling. The often unpredictable owner of this social media platform recently shared an update, indicating that some users now have access to an early version of this feature.
As of now, audio and video calling is exclusively available for iOS users. Users can make calls to contacts listed in their address book, provided these contacts are linked to their X accounts, as well as to people they are following on the platform. Additionally, there’s an option that allows only verified users (those who subscribe for $8 per month) to initiate calls.
Users, including those with the coveted blue verification tick, have commented on the post, expressing their inability to access the feature even after updating the app. This suggests that the feature is still in the A/B testing phase, as there is currently no visible call button, indicating that the function is not fully operational yet – X is essentially laying the groundwork.
To enable this feature, users should navigate to Settings > Privacy & Safety > Direct Messages > Enable audio & video calling. The support page for X clarifies that only Premium subscribers will have access to this capability. Musk also commented on one user’s thread, acknowledging that the calls are still in “beta,” but there is promise for the future.
The addition of audio and video calling to X, formerly known as Twitter, is an endeavor to entice users away from Meta’s services such as Facebook Messenger, Instagram Direct, or WhatsApp. Given the plethora of messaging platforms already offering audio and video calls, X’s attempt to establish itself in this competitive market may prove to be a challenging task.
