Facebook launches Clubhouse-like Q&A platform ‘Hotline’

Hotline is similar to Clubhouse but different as it allows video, and session recordings as well.

Facebook (REUTERS)

Facebook has also joined the bandwagon of Clubhouse-like products with its new experimental app ‘Hotline'. It's a Clubhouse-like Q&A platform with support for live-streaming launched by Facebook's experimental app team, NPE. Facebook has been spotted testing new features like Clubhouse but Hotline is going to be different, TechCrunch reported.

Hotline by Facebook has the core functioning like Clubhouse but it differs as it allows hosts to use video as well. Hosts can also schedule Q&A presentations which are more meeting-like than Clubhouse where it's more casual. Hotline like other video conferencing platforms allows hosts to record their sessions, and in both audio and video formats.

Q&A is the core feature of Hotline and how the platform works. The host receives questions via text which they answer during the sessions. As for the viewers, they react using emojis, and also upvote questions they want answered by the host. While it's more of a host and audience type setting, one engaging feature would be the host inviting audience members to ask their questions live. Clubhouse also gives most control to the host but Hotline seems to depend entirely on the host. That way Clubhouse offers a platform for group sessions where listeners also have options to participate in the session.

Hotline currently lets users sign in via Twitter, and then verify their identity via SMS, TechCrunch added. The platform is free to join wherever it's available, and there's no audience size limit as of now. Hotline's website is live but the platform isn't available in India yet.