Overview
- XChat, which appeared on Apple's App Store on Saturday, lists an April 17 release and opens pre-orders for iPhone and iPad.
- The standalone app promotes end-to-end encryption and no ads or tracking, and it adds audio and video calls, disappearing messages, screenshot blocking, edit or delete for sent texts, file sharing, and group chats up to 481 people.
- Access at launch is limited to iOS devices and the service requires an X account to start a chat or call.
- The App Store listing notes a 175.8MB download and an iOS 16.0 or later requirement.
- Early scrutiny highlights privacy policy references to location and contacts, raising questions about the app’s privacy claims and whether it can sway users from WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal.