May 10, 2021

Audio app Clubhouse is launching a trial version of its app for Android users in the US as it looks to expand its market.

The app gained popularity earlier this year after SpaceX CEO and billionaire Elon Musk appeared in its audio chats, triggering similar app features from more prominent rivals such as Facebook and Twitter.

Despite this, the number of downloads has declined. It peaked in February with 9.6 million downloads and fell to 2.7 million downloads in March. In April, the app experienced a further decline with 900,000 downloads.

The decline has raised questions about its long-term viability, and whether its success was temporary, largely because people spent more time at home due to pandemic restrictions.

In order to compete with the live audio app, Facebook has since introduced live audio rooms where users can find and play podcasts, while Twitter has also launched its Spaces platform, which shares similar features.

For more information, read the original story on Reuters.