Telegram Messenger is a popular messaging app with a large user base. It has been around for several years and has seen a recent surge in popularity. This is likely because it is a secure messaging app that doesn’t require an account login. This makes it perfect for use in areas where privacy is important. Additionally, Telegram offers several features that other messaging apps don’t, such as the ability to video call. This makes it an interesting alternative to more traditional messaging apps.
In this blog, we’ll explore why Telegram is gaining popularity and examine some of the reasons why it could overtake WhatsApp as the world’s most popular messaging app.
What is Telegram Messenger?
Telegram Messenger is a cloud-based instant messaging app that allows users to send text, voice, and video messages, as well as share photos, documents, and other files. It was launched in 2013 by Pavel Durov and has since grown to over 550 million active users worldwide.
But how does it fair with the competition?
Here are some statistics on the most popular instant messaging apps worldwide as of 2022:
WhatsApp: With over 2.24 billion monthly active users. WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging app in the world. It is particularly popular in countries like India, Brazil, and Mexico.
Facebook Messenger: Facebook Messenger has over 900 million active users out of 2.9 billion accounts and is the second most popular messaging app worldwide. It is closely tied to the Facebook social media platform.
WeChat: WeChat is a popular messaging app in China, with over 1.3 billion active users. It is often described as a super app, as it combines messaging with social media, mobile payments, and other features.
Telegram: Telegram has over 55 million daily active users out of 550 million users worldwide and is particularly popular in Eastern Europe, India, and the Middle East. It is known for its focus on security and privacy.
Signal: Signal is a privacy-focused messaging app that has gained popularity in recent years. It has over 40 million active users worldwide.
Others include Line, Viber, and Snapchat.
The graph below by Statista indicates the popular messenger apps as of January 2022, based on the number of monthly active users (in millions)
Let’s go through the broad benefits of using Telegram:
Security:
Telegram places a strong emphasis on security and privacy, offering end-to-end encryption for all messages, as well as the ability to create secret chats that self-destruct. It also allows users to enable two-factor authentication for added security.
No data loss with Cloud-based storage:
Unlike some other messaging apps, Telegram stores all messages and media in the cloud, which means that users can access their chats and files from any device with an internet connection.
Large file sharing:
Telegram allows users to send large files in size, much larger than most other messaging apps. This is particularly useful for sharing large documents, videos, or high-resolution photos.
Customization:
Telegram allows users to customize the app in a variety of ways, including changing the chat background, creating custom stickers and emojis, and using third-party bots and channels.
Cross-platform support:
Telegram is available on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux, which makes it easy to use and accessible to a wide range of users.
This makes Telegram a likely contender for a messenger app. Telegram offers a range of features and benefits that make it a popular choice for those who value security, privacy, and customization in their messaging app.
How Do You Get Started With Telegram Messenger?
To get started with Telegram Messenger, you’ll need to download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Once you have downloaded and installed it, open it up and sign in using your email address and password. You’ll then be able to create a new account or join an existing one. Once you’re logged in, you’ll see the app’s main screen. You can start chatting with people on this screen by sending those messages. You can also start groups and channels to share information with your friends.
The interface of Telegram messenger is customizable, so you can make it look the way you want.
You can have numerous Telegram accounts, making communicating with different friends and family members easier.
Telegram can also be used for business. Here are some ways companies can use Telegram:
Customer service:
Businesses can use Telegram to provide customer support and handle inquiries from customers. Telegram allows users to create chatbots that can answer frequently asked questions, provide product information, and even process orders.
Marketing:
Telegram can be used for marketing purposes, such as promoting new products or services, offering discounts or deals, and sharing relevant content. Businesses can also create channels where customers can subscribe to receive updates and announcements.
Team communication:
Telegram can be used as a communication tool for teams, allowing employees to share files, collaborate on projects, and stay connected while working remotely.
Telegram Messenger Versus WhatsApp
Let’s compare Telegram with the largest player in this space.
Telegram Messenger and WhatsApp are both popular instant messaging apps that allow users to communicate with each other through text, voice, and video messages. However, there are some key differences between the two apps:
Security:
Telegram uses end-to-end encryption for secret chats while WhatsApp only uses end-to-end encryption for messages. However, Telegram doesn’t support end-to-end encryption in group chats.
Features:
Telegram has more features than WhatsApp, including the ability to send messages that self-destruct, create secret chats, and send large files in size with no limits. WhatsApp has a file size limit of 16 MB.
Groups:
WhatsApp has a group chat limit of up to 1024 members whereas Telegram Messenger has 200,000.
APIs, Bots, and more:
WhatsApp has a proposition for businesses through WhatsApp Business through which a Bot can address customer requests and grievances. It is designed for business
Telegram too has provided developers with an API. Telegram bots can be developed for various purposes, The popular cases are – News and weather updates, language translation, entertainment, and gaming.
Telegram premium subscribers get the benefits of 4 GB file uploads, Voice text, faster downloads, exclusive stickers, and smarter chat management. Overall users avail double limits on features.
Telegram is owned by Pavel Durov, a Russian entrepreneur, while WhatsApp is owned by Facebook. Some users may prefer Telegram due to concerns about Facebook’s data privacy policies.
Channels and Broadcasts:
Like WhatsApp Broadcast, Telegram has private and public channels where users can share updates, insights, and news with audiences. However, with WhatsApp users can use only private channels to broadcast information.
Both Telegram and WhatsApp have their unique strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between the two will depend on the user’s specific needs and preferences.
What’s new with Telegram Messenger?
Telegram has faced some challenges over the years, including criticism for its perceived role in facilitating terrorist communication and the spread of fake news. However, the company has taken steps to address these issues, such as implementing automated moderation tools and cooperating with law enforcement agencies. Despite this, Telegram is continuing to grow in popularity, with new updates adding new features and improving user experience.
The Statista graph below highlights the number of Telegram app downloads worldwide in 2022, by country
Telegram has raised over $1.7 billion in funding through multiple rounds of investment, including a $1.7 billion ICO in 2018. This has allowed the company to continue to expand and develop new features.
The latest version has some differentiating features:
Network Intelligence:
With detailed pie charts and visualization of data for Wi-Fi and mobile data usage, you can adjust auto-download settings to suit data plans.
Translate Chats:
Translate chats, groups, and channels in real time with this Telegram Premium feature.
Autosave media:
Media is saved automatically to your gallery based on its size, type, and the source of the chat.
Some fun features include:
Animated emojis for profiles:
You can convert a sticker or animated emoji into a profile picture for your accounts, groups, or channels. Sort emojis and stickers by categories. New custom emojis by Telegram artists have also been introduced.
To conclude, Telegram has some nifty features, such as being able to quickly edit a sent message, that position it as a strong player in this space. It is an evolving and robust messenger app, and we can expect to only grow from here.
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