Twitter still working on Android version of Clubhouse-like ‘Spaces’ feature

We aren’t holding our breath for a potential Android release - after all, basic Twitter features like true-black Dark Mode were released on iOS months before they made their way to Android.

As usual, Android users are waiting for word on when they might see even a beta release from both Twitter and Clubhouse. (Jane Manchun Wong/Twitter)

In December last year, we had reported that Twitter was working on a virtual chat room feature that would let users host and join voice conversations with friends and acquaintances on the platform. The feature, that was rumoured to be called Spaces, eventually entered limited testing for iOS users towards the end of the year.

If Spaces sounds familiar, if because a new app called Clubhouse just beat Twitter to the punch, with an invite-based soft launch for iOS that began a few weeks ago. Twitter Spaces also allows iOS users who are invited to join a private ‘Space' to participate - they can't create rooms just yet.

As usual, Android users are waiting for word on when they might see even a beta release from both Twitter and Clubhouse. While Clubhouse declined to share a timeline, they stated last week that development for Clubhouse's Android app would begin ‘soon'. Meanwhile, Twitter Spaces for Android is very clearly already under development, as is evident from this report and the tweet posted recently by the official Spaces account.

Android gang...we haven't forgotten about you

🔥🔥🔥 @af_mada pic.twitter.com/SLaE1bXZUz

— Spaces (@TwitterSpaces) January 29, 2021

The tweet reads “Android gang...we haven't forgotten about you” and tags Mada Aflak, a Twitter engineer who is presumably working on the project. It also contains a 25 second video that demonstrates the Spaces feature working on appears to be a Pixel 3 XL (at least from the notch). The video shows the process of setting up a ‘Space', and how someone would join the room opting to be a listener or a speaker.

However, we aren't holding our breath for a potential Android release in the near future - after all, basic features like true-black Dark Mode were released officially on iOS months before they made their way to Android. If anything, you could sign up for the Twitter alpha or beta release on the Play Store and keep an eye out for a new indicator near the Fleets row at the top - as that's where the feature seems likely to show up.