The developer of the voice chat app Clubhouse has released its long-awaited application for Android users as part of a beta testing initiative. Since yesterday, Sunday, Android users can download and install the app on their phones, but they still cannot use it without an invite from a current user. This approach helps maintain the app's servers in case of an increase in downloads.
This launch comes after a decline in downloads of the iPhone app, reaching around 922,000 downloads worldwide in April, down from 2.7 million installations in March and 9.6 million in February, according to app analytics company Sensor Tower. Clubhouse allows users to listen to conversations live as a development on podcasts. Its emergence just over a year ago, when people were in dire need of human interaction during lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic, helped it gain significant popularity.
However, with the increase in COVID-19 vaccinations and the reopening of society, it remains unclear whether Clubhouse can maintain its momentum. The arrival of the app on Android may reverse the slowdown, yet the startup valued at $4 billion behind the app is taking a calculated approach.
In a press release, the company stated: "As part of our efforts to maintain growth metrics, we continue to use a waitlist and invite system, ensuring that each new member in the community can bring a few close friends." They added, "As we approach summer and continue to expand our backend, we plan to start opening up more, welcoming millions of other people from the iOS waitlist, expanding language support, and adding more accessibility features so that people around the world can experience Clubhouse in a way that feels authentic to them."
The Android app is currently available only in the United States, and the company indicated that it is gathering feedback and addressing any issues in the coming weeks as it slowly expands to other English-speaking countries and then to the rest of the world.
