In a groundbreaking move, Elon Musk’s social media venture, formerly known as Twitter and now rebranded as “X,” is set to revolutionize communication by enabling users to make voice and video calls with their contacts without needing to share their phone numbers. The announcement, made through an official blog post, highlights that this innovative feature will be accessible to all X users, spanning iOS, Android, and desktop platforms.
The official tweet from X reads, “Video & audio calls coming to X: Works on iOS, Android, Mac & PC, No phone number needed, X is the effective global address book. That set of factors is unique.”
This transformative update is anticipated to be accessible within the Direct Message (DM) menu, with the video calling option located conveniently in the upper right corner. The revamped DM menu is designed to resemble layouts found in other platforms like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.
CEO Linda Yaccarino confirmed the forthcoming additions in an interview with CNBC, emphasizing their aim to enrich communication avenues on the platform, providing users with diverse methods of connecting.
Notably, Andrea Conway, a design engineer at X, unveiled a glimpse of the new DM menu via Twitter, showcasing the placement of the video calling feature. Positioned next to existing options such as text messages, photos, and videos, the video calling option aligns seamlessly with the revamped interface.
Scheduled for rollout in the upcoming weeks, the audio and video calling features are poised to transform the way X users interact.
The introduction of these capabilities underscores X’s intention to bolster its communication infrastructure. Moreover, it serves as a robust response to Meta’s offerings, which already facilitate cross-platform calling across Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
Elon Musk’s vision for X encompasses its evolution into an all-encompassing platform, catering to various user needs. The Tesla CEO envisions users being able to subscribe to their preferred content creators, view extended videos, express themselves through long-form posts, facilitate transactions, and even manage financial resources.
Progress towards these goals has been evident, as X has commenced revenue-sharing initiatives with content creators and increased its video length allowance to two hours.
In addition to these pivotal modifications, Musk introduced “Hirings,” a novel professional networking feature within the X ecosystem. Similar to LinkedIn, this feature streamlines the job application process by offering a verified space for job seekers and potential employers.
“Hirings” is exclusively accessible to verified organizations, a measure implemented to ensure safety and credibility. Job listings are showcased on the organization’s profile and can be searched using keywords, location, and other criteria. Aspiring candidates can directly apply for openings on Twitter, establishing an efficient recruitment pathway.
Although “Hirings” is presently in beta testing and limited to verified U.S. organizations, Musk has expressed intentions to expand its availability to more countries.
Verified organizations can anticipate early access to “Hirings” by registering at verified.twitter.com/en/hiring.