Clubhouse has finally arrived on Android - but there's a catch

Clubhouse has finally arrived on Android - but there's a catch

Clubhouse has only been available on iOS since launch, but is now available to Android users as a closed beta. This voice-only social media app has been a huge hit, and interest has skyrocketed, especially since Elon Musk hosted an interview on the platform.

Clubhouse's exclusivity is further limited by the fact that it is invite-only, making it even more attractive. And now selected Android users can join the upper echelon of social media users with this app.

The latest release notes describe several improvements to Clubhouse for iOS and also announce an extension to Android through a closed beta. Testing on this platform has only just begun and is described as "rough," so it appears that a significant amount of improvements are needed before it can be offered to a wider audience.

"While Android is not yet live, we have begun handing out rough beta versions to a handful of friendly testers. If you know of anyone using Clubhouse on the official Android app, please give them a warm welcome." We can't wait to welcome more Android users to Clubhouse in the coming weeks."

There is no news on how Android users can sign up for the beta or how the rollout users will be determined. However, as the beta expands this month, we expect to know soon when the full Android rollout will take place.

Clubhouse's continued exclusivity on iOS is a potentially divisive decision. The invite-only format means that the app is restricted to a select few, many of whom are already confirmed users on platforms like Twitter. This makes the app seem like a desirable commodity, but shutting out the masses in response to a blue check mark is not exactly a winning formula either. It also opens the door to copycat apps that offer an alternative to Clubhouse that is available to everyone on both iOS and Android.

With platforms like Facebook, Telegram, and Spotify creating their own Clubhouse competitors, keeping the majority of potential users off the platform is not the best approach when they go live Yes, according to Business Insider, Clubhouse downloads in April plummeted to 922,000, a huge drop compared to February's figure of 9.6 million. Android Beta may be the beginning of a mass rollout, but we will have to wait and see.

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