A messaging app developed under Elon Musk's social media platform X is set to launch on April 17, with pre-orders now open on Apple's App Store.

The app, called XChat, is widely seen as a key step in Musk's ambition to transform X into an all-in-one "super app." Industry observers say the move aims to compete with leading global messaging platforms such as WeChat and WhatsApp.

Musk has repeatedly expressed admiration for China's WeChat, describing it as a perfect blend of Twitter, PayPal, and many other functions. He has noted that in China, users can rely on a single app for nearly all aspects of daily life, adding that no equivalent all-encompassing platform currently exists in Western markets.