Facebook Hotline is here to challenge Clubhouse — here’s how it stands out

Facebook Hotline is here to challenge Clubhouse — hither'southward how information technology stands out

(Image credit: Facebook)

E'er since Clubhouse launched its unique audio platform with its exclusive invite-only format, everyone has been eager to go in on the activity. Facebook has been working on its ain Clubhouse rivals, and is currently testing its newest contender: Hotline.

While Clubhouse won't exist invite-only forever, the disability for social media users to jump in and try it has opened upwards the floodgates for Clubhouse alternatives. Twitter Spaces, LinkedIn Live Audio Rooms, Instagram Live Rooms — they're stacking upwards, all with their own spin on the Clubhouse formula.

Hotline wants to stand out, which has been described as a mashup of Clubhouse and Instagram Live. Aye, information technology's non audio merely.

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How does Hotline work?

Unlike Clubhouse, Hotline can be downloaded on both mobile devices and desktop. The interface is slightly unlike depending on whether yous're using the mobile or desktop app, merely it's fairly similar to Clubhouse at a glance.

Hotline has a speaker section, highlighting the host, and a separate section listing listeners. Listeners are divided into passive and audience members, and those who want are request questions.

Hosts can view the questions, which can exist downvoted and upvoted. Listeners tin bring together hosts on phase if their question is picked. Audience members as well tin react with emoji to increase engagement. Of grade, the host has control over the room, and can scrap questions, and remove audition members from the room.

The website will let yous sign upward to join the waiting list if the exam is available in your region. You'll need to accept a Twitter business relationship to sign up, and and then verify your ID via a follow-upward SMS.

Does Hotline tape sessions?

One of the principal differences to note is that while Clubhouse doesn't record discussions in rooms, Hotline does. Clubhouse states that it makes temporary recordings of sessions solely for the purposes of investigating any potential incidents. If nothing is reported, the recording is deleted when the room ends. Users can't record the goings-on in rooms.

Hotline generates recordings automatically, sending the host an mp4 and mp3 file of the session. These can be edited for posting on other social media platforms. While Clubhouse'southward approach is in favor of encouraging discourse without fear of speaking freely, Hotline is taking the opposite route. For the purposes of Q&Every bit that are more than formal, its approach makes sense.

Does Hotline have room limits?

As it currently stands, Hotline doesn't cap the room limit, meaning yous can have as many people join your session equally you similar. Clubhouse is capped at 8,000 which seems generous enough that it wouldn't be an issue.

Prior to Elon Musk'south appearance on the app before this year, the cap was v,000. His session striking the limit with ease, leading to 'overflow' rooms and the bumped up cap. We'll no doubt see the aforementioned kind of numbers if he managed to wrangle his list of dream guests — including Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Kanye West.

Hotline video support

Clubhouse uses an sound-simply format, which is the feature that rival apps that have been springing up take latched onto. Hotline is mixing things up a bit with an audio format, but gives users the choice to switch on the camera on their devices if they desire to.

TechCrunch reports that when listeners bring together the host 'on phase' they can switch to video, but that the toggle is currently inactive for the test.

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Shabana is T3'south News Editor covering tech and gaming, and has been writing about video games for about a decade (and playing them since forever). Likewise as contributing to Tom's Guide, she'south had bylines at major gaming sites during her freelance career before settling down at T3, and has podcasts, streaming, and video content nether her belt to kick. Outside of work, she also plays video games and should really think about expanding her hobbies.