X, ex-Twitter, will offer audio and video calls, all without the need for a phone number

2023-08-31 16:13:13

The social network X (ex-Twitter) will soon make it possible to make audio and video calls, its owner Elon Musk announced on Thursday on the platform, a step to make X an “all-purpose application”.

“Audio and video calls are coming to X,” wrote Elon Musk, without indicating the launch date of these new functions. They will be accessible on Android, iOS, Mac and PC, and without the need for a phone number, he said. “X is the global directory,” he added.

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.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 31, 2023

A new step in the transformation of the network

Elon Musk and his new chief executive Linda Yaccarino announced in July the name change of Twitter to X, saying that the network would become a “universal application” inspired by WeChat, China’s leading social network. Ultimately, X could allow users to socialize and manage their finances.

X’s payment arm, Twitter Payments, on Monday received a ‘crucial’ currency remittance license from the US state of Rhode Island, allowing it to ‘engage in cryptocurrency-related activities’ such as exchanges. , wallets and payments, cryptocurrency specialist website CoinWire reported this week.

This license allows X to “securely store, transfer, and facilitate the exchange of digital assets on behalf of its users,” according to CoinWire.

A diversification of activities in the face of the flight of advertisers

Since Elon Musk took over Twitter in October, the platform’s ad business has plummeted as advertisers have been put off by his management style and mass layoffs in content moderation. In response, the billionaire scaled the model to a paying subscriber base.

Many users and advertisers have reacted negatively to the site’s new fees for previously free services, as well as changes to content moderation and the return of banned far-right accounts. Elon Musk also removed the Twitter logo, replacing the blue bird with a white X.