Elon Musk’s X rolls out audio, video call feature; here’s how to activate

Billionaire Elon Musk-led microblogging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has started rolling out audio and video call features, taking one more step towards making the platform an "everything app". The development came as a platform user DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) shared a screenshot of X's new feature enabling audio and video calling on the app.

"To enable video and voice calls on X: Go to Settings > Privacy & Safety > Direct Messages > Enable Audio & Video Calling," he shares.

Responding to the post, Musk says the company has rolled out an "early version" of the feature. "Early version of video & audio calling on X". Announcing the feature in August, Musk had said the platform would be an "effective global address book".

At the moment, the audio and video calling feature is available only on iOS and the company says it will soon be available on Android. The audio and video call feature will appear only for premium subscribers, while all accounts will be able to receive calls, says X.

X has also enabled features where users will have control over who calls from the direct message setting. "By default, you’re able to receive calls from accounts you follow or have in your address book (if you’ve previously given us access to your address book). To be able to call another user they must have sent you a Direct Message at least once before," says X.

To make an audio or video call on iOS, tap the envelope icon and go to messages. Tap on an existing DM conversation or start a new one. Tap on the phone icon, from where one can start an audio or video call. The account that one calls will receive a call notification and if one misses, the caller will get a notification that the other user "missed a call".

While on an audio call, one can put the call on speaker, and mute or unmute the microphone by tapping the microphone icon. To end the call, tap on the X button.

While on a video call, one can switch between the front or back-facing camera by tapping the flip camera icon. Also, one can turn off the speaker mode and camera. A mute microphone option is also available.

To control who can call a user, (s)he must go to the message setting and enable the video or audio calling feature and also control who can call, including those in the address book, people one follows or verified users.

Earlier, X had said the newly announced feature would work on all kinds of devices, including iOS, Android, and Mac & PC.

Musk and X CEO Linda Yaccarino have been working on changing Twitter's core identity since her joining in April as the billionaire at that time had said they'll transform the platform into an “everything app”.

The recent big changes added to X include a double tap to fast forward or backwards in the video; rate limits to fight scams; improved TweetDeck; securing of first money transmitter license in Michigan; launching of new account analytics; job listing features; airplay button for videos; community spotlight module; video downloads; community notes expansion; and sharing of ad revenue with eligible creators globally.

In one of the biggest overhauls to Twitter, Musk in July 2023 had shed the company's 'Twitter bird' identity and did away with the logo. After its $44-billion buyout last year in October 2022, Musk merged Twitter with the newly-formed X Corp, making it clear that getting an 'X' identity was part of his earliest plans.