Voice/Video Call Bug Fixes on All Platforms 📞
December saw a series of updates released to enhance Session's voice and video call experience across all platforms.
On Android, improvements were made to ensure incoming call notifications display more consistently, even when devices are locked. There are still cases under investigation where incoming calls won’t display notifications , but this update marks a meaningful step toward more seamless call handling on Android.
Session Desktop users can now enjoy improved compatibility when calling iOS devices, thanks to a fix addressing duplicate timestamps that previously disrupted call notifications on iOS. This enhancement improves the reliability of calls between Desktop and iOS devices, strengthening cross-platform functionality.
On iOS, updates have resolved a crash which occurred when receiving a call from the iOS lockscreen and refined call connection logic, resulting in better call notifications and improved ability to connect calls . There are still some cases in which iOS calls will fail to connect, and investigation is ongoing to resolve these issues. The goal of all of these improvements is to create a polished and dependable calling experience on iOS, Android and Desktop which can be consistently relied upon.
Final Preparation for Groups v2 Release 🧑🤝🧑
The highly anticipated Groups v2 upgrade is moving closer to reality, with the beginning of internal testing targeted for mid-December and the release planned for early 2025. A lot of work is being undertaken to ensure this release sets a new standard for group chats on Session, delivering a more reliable and feature-packed experience.
Rigorous bug fixes are currently underway across all platforms, with cross-platform testing next on the agenda. QA efforts have been particularly intense for this upgrade, but this thorough approach will ensure Groups v2 is rock-solid when it lands.
Testnet Upgrades: Backend and Staking Portal 🚀
As reported in the last Lab Update, two major ongoing areas of work for the testnet have been improving the backend and the Staking Portal UI, particularly with reference to registrations. The updated Staking Portal UI is being rolled out gradually on the canary site at present and being tested by active testnet participants, who report that the new UI feels much sleeker and more intuitive to use. The backend V2 has also completed internal testing and is expected to be released in the next node upgrade in the new year. The Reserve Slots feature (the final Staking Portal feature to be released) will be implemented on the canary site shortly as well, before being rolled out on the production Staking Portal.
In the meantime, as participants continue to battle-test the network, a testnet leaderboard was released, allowing operators and contributors to track top wallets and see their total share of current testnet points.
Bug Fixes and Network Stability 🔧
Contributors were also busy developing fixes to a number of complex and persistent issues affecting testnet stability. A bug affecting data syncing and, resultantly, claiming functionality in the Staking Portal, was the subject of extensive investigation and testing in order to develop a long-term solution. At the same time, a new issue also affecting claiming functionality emerged. Solutions for both issues have successfully completed final testing and will be released in the next node upgrade in the new year. A testnet-specific issue with node connectivity, revealed by faster uptime proof intervals, also affected node operators, causing numerous node deregistrations. A successful fix for this issue was released as part of a non-mandatory upgrade.
Migration Momentum and TGE Prep 🔄
Preparing for the migration from the Oxen to the Session Network also continues to pick up the pace. Testing the transition of staked $OXEN is now undergoing on the internal devnet. Preparation is ongoing to distribute the remaining unpaid batched $OXEN rewards for wallets not registered for the swap program. Comprehensive planning for the token generation event and all its relevant technical dependencies was also conducted this month and will continue to be refined as the launch approaches.
Further Lokinet Rewrite Progress ✍️
The Lokinet rewrite has been an evolving saga. What started as a simple wire protocol redux has developed into a full engine swap. Almost every component has been overhauled and reimplemented, from the event loop to the wire protocol to the platform layer.
A dedicated blog has been written by Lokinet’s contributors to provide an in-depth look at the rewrite process and the recent progress that’s been made—check it out here.
Session in the Spotlight: Major Global Coverage in 2024 📰
Session has garnered significant attention this year across global tech, privacy, and crypto media, solidifying its position as the leader in decentralised, privacy-first messaging.
Highlights include coverage of the launch of the Session Technology Foundation in Switzerland, praised by 404 Media and The Guardian as a bold response to regulatory challenges, and endorsements from PCMag and ZDNet for Session’s innovative approach to secure messaging.
In the crypto space, Decrypt spotlighted Session as a vital alternative to centralised platforms and Cointelegraph invited Session to contribute multiple columns. Growing coverage in crypto-native publications like these underscores the growing recognition of Session as the premier web3 messaging application, and of its contributors as key thought leaders.
Check out the full 2025 Press Roundup here
A Strong Start to a Social Media Growth Campaign 📈
Recent promotions have driven impressive growth across both Session Token and Session App Twitter/X accounts, with an increase of over 4,000 new followers for Session Token and over 16,000 new followers for Session in December.
This marks the start of a broader growth campaign building momentum toward the upcoming TGE in February/March. The new year will bring with it more exciting stuff on Session’s social media, including interactive incentivised campaigns for the community to participate in. Stay tuned for what’s next as the momentum continues to build.
Fighting Censorship with Decentralization 🌐
Lastly, STF Director Alex Linton attended a conference in Berlin focused on internet censorship and splintering. He joined up with the brightest minds in both circumvention and web3 to explore the role decentralization and web3 could play in keeping the internet open and available to everyone.
Session will explore some new circumvention strategies next year to keep private and secure communication accessible to all.