September 27, 2023
Elon Musk has long envisioned Twitter as an “everything” app, a one-stop shop for users to communicate, consume news, and even shop. Now, it seems that Musk is taking a step closer to achieving that vision with the upcoming addition of audio and video calling capabilities to the platform.
The new feature will only be available to X Premium subscribers, a paid subscription service that costs $8 per month. The news comes from code found in the latest version of the X app by longtime tech evangelist and creator of the hashtag Chris Messina.
“As hinted in Linda’s sizzle reel, X will be adding audio and video calls shortly. (Just to be clear: don’t call me, I’ll call you.),” Messina posted on Threads, referring to a controversial promo video that X CEO Linda Yaccarino shared last week.
“Ah, and you’ll of course have to PAY for that feature, because Skype is dead,” Messina continued.
TechCrunch said it confirmed Messina’s findings, reporting that the code shows how the call feature is tied in with the current Direct Message options and that non-paying users will be prompted to subscribe to X Premium if they attempt to use the feature.
“Take messaging to the next level with audio and video calls,” reads the X code. “Turn the feature on and then select who you’re comfortable using it with.”
“Audio and video calls are a premium feature,” reads the prompt in the code when a non-paying user tries to select the call option. “Subscribe to gain access.”
The sources for this piece include an article in Mashable.
