So it's an un-edited Podcast you can only listen to live?

Or I guess if you're closer to my age, it's like a radio station you can't listen to without a password?

Indeed. Except, the value add is that anyone can run their own password-protected radio show, and the hope is "anyone" includes a lot of popular people.

It's audio snapchat, which everyone wants to join because all the cool people are also on it.

Have you ever been to a panel discussion? It’s like that.

> without a password

Without a super secret invite!

Not sure why this is getting downvoted. The main success factor for Clubhouse is the social graph. It is entirely possible to have access to people like Paris Hilton, Anthony Scaramucci, or MC Hammer among other notable people.

It’s a social graph that’s divided by time zone.

I can’t be connected to these people because I live in Europe and so times when I can reasonably be on a phone call do not overlap with theirs.

Twitter on the other hand... I can be connected with these people and not only can I “catch up” later, but reading Twitter in bed is more socially acceptable than being on a conference call.

It’s strange to me that both you and I are getting downvoted… probably from people who haven’t actually used it? If you do, then it’s obvious how it’s not a conference call at all. It’s a panel that you might be able to participate in, which isn’t the same thing at all. Anyone can talk whenever they want on a conference call. The moderator chooses who talks in clubhouse.

Conference calls have had guest management and moderation features for decades. Also several dozen social platforms already support livestreams with more functionality like video, files, chat, etc.

There is conference call software that only allows a panel to talk. It's used to give remote presentations to a large group of people.

For example Webex has a product for that, as well as Bluejeans.

Aren't conference calls also moderated? Otherwise they would just be a broadcast.

That’s the gist of it. A moderated conference call with famous people on it. So it is like a podcast/conference call.

I tried it, but got bored of it :(. I think it’s because of the live nature of it and the fact there could be so many guests on at once.

I think clubhouse style audio and live stream selling (like qvc but on Instagram or Tik Tok) are the current and future trends.

No. A conference call allows anyone to talk whenever they want.

Conference calls also have hosts who can mute and manage the guests. We had conferencing 2.0 about 5 years ago with the likes of Uberconference, and now 3.0 with Zoom. What is actually new?

It’s a panel discussion, with an optional mic that can be explicitly passed around. There are bios on everyone that you can click around, no video, many rooms you can join arranged by subject matter and people, and a social network that includes many A-listers. The entire premise is different than a conference call. I don’t know what else to say… I’m guessing you haven’t tried it if you keep saying it’s the same thing.