Elon Musk wants to fight WhatsApp: Audio, video calls coming on X soon
Elon Musk is leaving no stone unturned in adding new features to X, formerly Twitter
X will soon support video and audio calling feature similar to WhatsApp
The feature will be supported on iOS, Android, Mac and Windows PC version of X’s app
Elon Musk, CEO of X, formerly known as Twitter, has announced new features that are coming to the micro-blogging platform. In a post on X, announced that the platform is coming up with video and audio calls for iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows PCs. The feature will come as the latest update in the platform's overhaul since Elon Musk took over after a $44 billion acquisition last year.
Also read: X (Twitter) plans to roll out video calling feature soon, but will users care?
In his post, Musk said that the calling feature will come for all platforms including Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows PC. Musk also mentioned that users will not have to link their phone numbers in order to make calls on the platform. He further said that X is the effective global address book that will be used to facilitate the calling feature.
In the post on X, Musk also said that these set of factors are unique to X, meaning that no other platform is currently offering the ability to make calls without the need of a phone number.
Before this, a calling feature was earlier teased in multiple reports online. Previously, Twitter designer Andrea Conway had shared images of the feature, hinting at how the audio and video call UI could look like on the platform. The design, shared by Conway back in July, showed that users will be able to make calls from the DM screen on the platform.
Also read: Elon Musk wants you to find your next job on Twitter as it takes on Linkedin
Recently, a change in X's data policy allowed the platform to collect users' biometric information along with job and education history. A report in Bloomberg laid down the update in X's policies, which stated, "Based on your consent, we (X) may collect and use your biometric information for safety, security, and identification purposes."
"We may collect and use your personal information (such as your employment history, educational history, employment preferences, skills and abilities, job search activity and engagement, and so on) to recommend potential jobs for you, to share with potential employers when you apply for a job, to enable employers to find potential candidates, and to show you more relevant advertising," the updated privacy policy stated.