Emerging Alternatives to Clubhouse: The Rise of Audio Clones
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The Rise of Clubhouse Clones
The surge in popularity of Clubhouse has been widely noted. Anna Wiener, a contributor for The New Yorker, characterizes the app as a “drop-in audio social network that facilitates voice-only chat rooms.” This description seems accurate as many users have found Clubhouse to be a vital platform for connection amid the seemingly endless pandemic. However, the underlying technology of the app is relatively straightforward, leading to a wave of similar applications from other tech firms.
Facebook's Live Messenger Rooms
The New York Times highlighted Facebook's development of Live Messenger Rooms back in February, emphasizing the company's reputation in Silicon Valley for imitating its rivals. Alessandro Paluzzi, a mobile developer and known informant, remarked that Facebook's live audio rooms would enable users to join rooms directly from the Facebook app, eliminating the need to switch to Messenger. When not in full-screen mode, the room would showcase its title, the number of speakers, and the total listener count, allowing users to gauge its popularity.
Spotify's Locker Room Evolution
On Tuesday, Spotify revealed plans to acquire Betty Labs, the team behind Locker Room, a live audio app focused on sports discussions. In the upcoming months, Locker Room is set to transform into a more comprehensive live audio platform catering to a broader spectrum of creators and fans. This evolution aims to include communities for writers, musicians, songwriters, and podcasters.
Exploring Twitter Spaces
Twitter has introduced a new feature called Twitter Spaces, enabling users to create “rooms for voice-only conversations.” A public launch is slated for April, and it’s noteworthy that Spaces may be accessible on Android devices before Clubhouse, which is currently an iOS-only platform available through invites. The creators, Alpha Exploration Co., anticipate launching an Android version by May 2021.
Instagram Live Rooms
In early March, Instagram announced that its users could now utilize “Live Rooms” to broadcast with up to three additional participants, expanding upon its previous livestream capabilities, which only allowed two users to stream simultaneously.
Slack's Upcoming Audio Feature
On March 25, Protocol reported that Slack's CEO Stewart Butterfield indicated that the communication platform would soon introduce a feature similar to the audio-chat app Clubhouse, allowing users to join rooms for discussions without needing to schedule meetings or initiate calls. Details are scarce, but interest is high.
Discord's Stage Channels
Discord, a platform popular among gamers, is also rolling out a live room feature called “Stage Channels.” This feature is currently available across all platforms supported by Discord, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and web browsers. Prior to Stage Channels, Discord had already launched “voice channels,” which permitted free conversation among users. In contrast, Stage Channels are structured to allow only designated speakers to talk at any given time.
Conclusion
While it remains uncertain whether these Clubhouse “clones” will serve as sustainable options for users, especially given that the original app is still in its early stages, one thing is clear: tech companies are eager to occupy the “live audio” space swiftly, hoping to engage their respective audiences with this innovative communication format.