Social platform The application allows users to chat directly with X platform contacts and supports file sharing, audio and video calls, group chats and other functions.
According to reports, X began testing XChat on a small scale earlier this year, inviting some test users to experience the new product and provide feedback. Now that it is officially open for download, it means that X is further separating the messaging service from the original social platform and promoting it as an independent product.
From a strategic perspective, XChat is regarded as a key link in the X business landscape. The report pointed out that X hopes to use its social network as a traffic entrance for more services, and further extend it to areas such as messaging and payment. In addition to XChat, X's payment service is also being tested as a standalone application, but it is not yet open to the public.
This product path also shows new changes in the development direction of X. Musk has previously proposed to build X into a "super application" that integrates functions such as messaging, payment, creator content, shopping and artificial intelligence, but now X is splitting some of its core capabilities into separate App operations. According to reports, X, currently controlled by Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI, is expanding its touch points with consumers through a set of independent applications.
In terms of product functions, XChat has provided messaging and calling capabilities since its launch, while focusing on privacy protection. The application supports editing messages, deleting messages for all chat participants, sending messages that disappear after reading, and has the function of preventing screenshots. X also claims that the app contains no ads and has no tracking mechanism.
However, X’s description of safety is still controversial. The company said that all messages within XChat are end-to-end encrypted and can be protected by PIN codes, but the report mentioned that security experts have previously questioned X's encryption claims. As early as when the XChat service debuted, security researchers warned that its security performance may not be as good as mature encrypted communication applications such as Signal. With the independent version of XChat now fully online, experts are expected to re-evaluate whether the application has been improved enough.
In addition to private chats and group chats, XChat will also undertake some migration requirements for the "community" function of the X platform. According to reports, X has decided to turn off the Communities function, which has low usage and is prone to spam. This adjustment may bring a wave of early installation growth to XChat, because original community members may turn to new applications to continue communication.
In addition, X also hinted that XChat will continue to be updated in the future. Benji Taylor, chief design officer of