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X will make audio and video calls a premium subscriber-only feature (techcrunch.com)

submitted 1 year ago by UrLogicFails@beehaw.org to c/technology@beehaw.org

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Archive link: https://archive.ph/jFcSY

Last month X CEO Linda Yaccarino confirmed that video calls would be coming to the app formerly known as Twitter as part of its transition into an “everything app.” Now, new code in the X app reveals that both audio and video calls will be supported. However, the feature will not be available to all X users — only those with an X Premium membership, it appears.

lines of code refer to a warning that appears when someone tries to DM another user on the app which explains that “audio and video calls are a premium feature,” and entices them to “subscribe to gain access.”

To date, X has not been able to make a compelling case for X Premium, as independent research indicated that the company has only sold roughly 1 million subscriptions

By comparison, Snapchat’s premium subscription Snapchat+ just topped the 5 million user mark. Meanwhile, analysts are forecasting Meta’s subscription, Meta Verified, will have 12 million subscribers by early next year.

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[–] UrLogicFails@beehaw.org 45 points 1 year ago (8 children)

It seems like Twitter is really trying to find a value-add for Twitter Blue, but I can't see this enticing anyone.

What is the overlap between people you met on Twitter that you want to have a video call with that you don't trust with your phone number/ other contact information?

This feels especially value-less when you remember you would only be able to call people who are also Twitter Blue subscribers (approximately 1 in 550).

[–] SSUPII@sopuli.xyz 21 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (7 children)

Kik used to be popular for Clash of Clans groups because you did not need to share the phone number and it was free. Now there is Telegram for that as it became much more popular and the app is generally more polished. And again, was free.

Nobody will buy it for this.

[–] yum13241@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Telegram still requires a phone number. Bad news for teenagers who don't have a phone yet.

[–] monkeyflower@infosec.exchange 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

@yum13241
VOIP numbers work ;)
@SSUPII @technology

[–] yum13241@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Getting one that doesn't go away if you don't send a message every 2 seconds is as hard as fuck.

[–] SSUPII@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Can you suggest VOIP numbers that allow you to use them like normal phones. I wanted one for using in services that might need calling me.

[–] JCPhoenix@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I have a Google Voice number. Completely free. I used to give out to clients instead of my actual cell number. So that when I left, I could just recycle the number. Never recycled it, but I still use it as a backup/for trash purposes.

Though some systems out there that need a phone number do block Google Voice numbers during registration.

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