X is officially splitting its direct messages into a brand new application. The social media company plans to launch XChat for iPhone and iPad users next week. This standalone app removes private conversations from the main timeline interface and gives them a dedicated home. If you spend a lot of time messaging friends or colleagues on the platform, you will soon have a faster and more focused way to stay in touch.
It allows you to chat without getting distracted by the endless scrolling of your main feed. The goal is to make chatting feel like a core feature rather than an afterthought attached to a public broadcasting tool.
The new application features secure chats and voice call options
XChat focuses heavily on privacy and speed. The application brings secure encryption to all your private text conversations by default. This ensures no one else can read your messages while they travel across the internet.
You can also make audio and video calls directly through the interface. It functions very much like other popular chat services, letting you share high-resolution photos and large video files with your contacts.
The interface is clean and minimal, completely removing the clutter of trending topics and public replies. You only see your active chats and a simple address book.
You must link an existing social account to start chatting
You cannot create an isolated profile just for this new service. The chat application requires you to sign in using your current X credentials. It uses your established network to populate your contacts immediately.
Once you log in, all your existing direct messages automatically sync over to the new space. You will not lose any of your previous conversation history during the transition. The company hopes this dedicated application will encourage users to spend more time communicating directly.
It wants to compete directly with other major messaging platforms already dominating the mobile market. The main application will likely allow basic messaging for a short transition period, but the company expects users to make the switch soon.
