Launching an alternative smartphone to challenge Apple and Google? Elon Musk thinks so. In question, the uncertain future of Twitter in the App Store and Play Store, while tensions arise between the new head of the social network and the two groups, over issues of moderation and remuneration. If Elon Musk does not want to go there -because he himself knows that it would be very complicated-, the idea is far from being evacuated.
It appeared in a tweet on November 25, in response to a question from Liz Wheeler, an American podcast host. She asked Elon Musk if she could produce her own smartphone if Apple and Google removed Twitter from his app interface. Liz Wheeler even launched her own survey asking users if they would use a “tELON phone”. Elon Musk replied: “I hope it doesn’t come to that, but yes, if there is no other option, I will make an alternative phone.”
But creating his own smartphone would require Elon Musk to embark on a business that is virtually lost beforehand. Because launching a new phone requires, above all, creating an entire ecosystem around it: an operating system, a dedicated application interface, and a coherent ecosystem. Others before, have paid the price like the Windows Phone, or the Amazon Fire Phone. Huawei also suffered the full force of the ban on using the Play Store.
The technical challenge is enormous and, although Musk never lacks enthusiasm, he is also a specialist in aborted promises, or failing that, postponed ad vitam æternam or almost.
Especially since the money will not be enough to develop a worthy competitor to Android or iOS, you will need talented engineers, and your recent management policy may do you some harm.
At this time, neither Apple nor Google have officially stated that they plan to remove Twitter from their app interface. But that could be the case if the two companies decide that the social network does not respect certain imposed rules. Elon Musk, who claims to be a “defender of free speech,” could be blamed for reactivating banned accounts like the one of donald trumpbut also that of Jordan Peterson, a far-right provocateur, Babylon Bee, a conservative satirical organ, and even Kanye West, who had been banned for celebrating antisemitic comments.
Twitter is also experiencing identity theft and misinformation issues related to subscribing to Twitter Blue, a certification available to everyone for €8 a month. Of this sum, Apple and Google take a 30% commission or 2.40 euros, which is not to Elon Musk’s taste.
Apps have already been removed from app stores like Parler, the far-right social network for violating Apple and Google’s policies banning hate speech, before being reinstated after improving their moderation policies.
If Twitter were to be withdrawn, the platform would continue to exist on the web. However, this would force users to go through their Internet browser to access the platform, which is not very practical for a social network.
Source: BFM TV
