Voice social network Clubhouse said on Sunday that it would expand its Android app worldwide for days after launching a beta version of its service on Google-owned mobile operating systems for users in the US.
The startup - backed by A16z, Tiger Global, and DST Global and valued at about $ 4 billion - said it would roll out Android apps in Japan, Brazil, and Russia on Tuesday; Nigeria and India three days later, and the rest of the world by Friday afternoon.
The clubhouse was originally launched as an iPhone app only last year. The app gained rapid popularity last year, attracting many high-profile celebrities, politicians, investors, and entrepreneurs.
The startup began developing Android apps earlier this year and started testing the beta version externally this month. At a town hall earlier this month, the startup said availability on Android had been the most requested product feature.
The global rollout of the clubhouse on Android comes at a time when several technology firms including Facebook, Twitter, Discord, Spotify, Reddit, and Microsoft's LinkedIn have either launched similar offerings - or announced plans to do so.
The clubhouse's Twitter clone, called Space, has emerged as one of the biggest competitors.
Meanwhile, the clubhouse has struggled to maintain its growth momentum in recent months - based on download figure estimates by several mobile insights firms. Android apps can potentially help startup courts more users.
The startup continues to maintain an invite system to onboard new users, saying it is part of an effort "to measure growth".
Android rollout continues!
— Clubhouse (@Clubhouse) May 16, 2021
🇯🇵🇧🇷 🇷🇺 Japan, Brazil & Russia coming Tuesday
🇳🇬🇮🇳 Nigeria & India on Friday AM
🌐 Rest of world throughout the week, and available worldwide by Friday afternoon
Clubhouse's Android app currently lacks many features. At the time of launch last week, users could not follow a topic, create or manage a club, link their social profile, pay, or change their profile name to username Were. The startup said that it is working to bring the iOS feature to the Android app.