Twitter’s clubhouse clone reaches Android even before the original
No time right now?
While the audio chat app Clubhouse is still only available for iOS, Twitter has now also made its competing product Spaces available for Android. There are, however, limitations.
Twitter Spaces is a pretty blatant copy of the concept of the Clubhouse app. Just like with the model, users can meet in rooms that are called Spaces on Twitter and talk to each other in groups.
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Spaces with limited Android functionality
At the end of 2020, Twitter started the new service as a private beta under iOS and has since approved new beta testers in quick succession. Availability for Android users had been on the roadmap from the start. Now the time has come. As announced by Twitter on Twitter, the beta user base is to continue to grow and to include Android users. Anyone who is already a beta tester can now use Spaces on Android as an extension of the Twitter app.
However, the full functionality is not yet available. In the current version, Android users can take part in conversations in any open space. But you cannot start your own spaces. However, this function is to be delivered at short notice, as Twitter promises.
Android folks, our beta is growing! starting today you will be able to join and talk in any space. SOON you’ll be able to create your own but we’re still working out some things. keep your 👀 out for live Spaces above your home tl
– Spaces (@TwitterSpaces) March 2, 2021
If you can already use Spaces, you will find the feature above the main timeline. There you can also see which of those you are following is currently in a space. Another new feature in Spaces is the ability to date a discussion group in advance. With this, Twitter is getting closer and closer to Clubhouse in terms of functionality.
Scheduled Spaces: Twitter allows roundtables to be planned in advance. (Graphic: Twitter)
Spaces: Twitter gives high priority
Twitter’s development speed can only be described as rapid. From the first public announcement in November to the release of the Android version, Twitter has always kept its quite transparent schedule, sometimes undercutting it. Clearly, Spaces is of strategic importance to Jack Dorseys.
Should Twitter manage to open the service generally and operate it stably via the mobile platforms, it could become tight for Clubhouse and its invite-only system, which is limited to iPhones. As has been shown time and again, the fast eat the slow in the new economy.
As has meanwhile become known, Facebook does not want to let the butter be taken from its bread. Accordingly, the social media giant should also work on an audio app in the clubhouse style. However, Facebook will not be able to win the race. In return, the platform, with its billions of users, has clear economies of scale.
We have put together other clubhouse alternatives for you in this post.
