Why is Elon Musk discontinuing his phone number forever?

New Delhi: Tech magnate Elon Musk made headlines on Friday with his announcement of transitioning to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, for all his messaging and audio/video communication needs, signalling a departure from traditional phone services.

Musk revealed his intention to discontinue the use of his phone number in favour of X for texts and audio/video calls in the coming months, as shared on X late Thursday night. This move underscores Musk's endorsement of X's evolving features, particularly its audio and video calling capabilities introduced in October last year.

Promotion of X's "Everything App" vision

The billionaire entrepreneur has been actively advocating for X to transform into an "everything app", providing a comprehensive range of services beyond traditional social networking. Musk's push towards utilising X for communication aligns with his vision of consolidating various functionalities into a single platform.

Focus on Audio/Video calling

While X's video and audio calling features offer a new dimension to communication, it's noteworthy that the platform's calling services lack encryption, unlike competitors such as Meta's WhatsApp and Apple's FaceTime. However, X has introduced enhanced call privacy settings to safeguard user privacy, underscoring its commitment to user security.

Transition to a Super-App concept

Following the rebranding of Twitter as X, Musk hinted at transforming the platform into a super-app, encompassing messaging, social networking, and peer-to-peer payments. This strategic shift reflects Musk's ambition to position X as a versatile digital ecosystem catering to diverse user needs.

Introduction of Not A Bot

In a bid to diversify revenue streams, X recently announced plans to introduce a subscription model, dubbed "Not A Bot", offering premium features for a nominal annual fee of $1. This innovative approach allows users to access advanced functionalities while monetising specific interactions within the platform.

With Musk's endorsement and X's ongoing evolution, the platform is poised to redefine the landscape of social media and digital communication, offering users a seamless and multifaceted experience.