The sudden growth of the Russian app in the news problems with rival WhatsApp have already taken advantage of the platform's number of users in 2016, for example. This time, the software has skyrocketed the App Store and Google Play Store rankings today, the most downloaded app on the iPhone and Android. To find out what Telegram, facts and trivia about the instant messaging service, see the list below created by dnetc.
Telegram comes out ahead with seven features WhatsApp owes
WhatsApp rival, the messenger Telegram has become popular and already has millions of downloads Photo: Marvin Costa / dnetc
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Telegram Messenger is an instant messaging program created in 2013 in C ++ language. The free platform has gained popularity in recent years and may serve as an alternative to Facebook messengers: Messenger and WhatsApp. The service has a mobile version, desktop version and also exclusive for web browsers. Interested parties can find the app on Android, iOS and Windows Phone operating systems; For desktop and web, there is compatibility with Windows, macOS, Linux and Chrome for browsers.
Telegram has a similar interface to WhatsApp, but offers unique functions Photo: Divulgao / Telegram
The user can use Telegram to communicate with their contacts through different types of media such as text, audio, image, video, emojis and stickers. The registration on the platform is made from a phone number and, after validation, interested parties have access to the application's home screen, which shows their contact list. In the platform it is possible to create group conversations with up to 200 thousand participants, secret chats with self-destructing messages and even enable bots to perform certain functions. In addition, it also allows you to send unlimited files to other users.
These basic messenger features make it a direct competitor to services like WhatsApp. However, the Russian system has other features that set it apart and make it more complete than American software. Telegram's main brand is the security scheme offered to users. An example of end-to-end message sending and receiving encryption is also applied in WhatsApp, which prevents the content shared between chat members from being intercepted by anyone, including developers.
Another effort is the commitment not to disclose data of its users to third parties. In the case of Facebook, owner of WhatsApp, there are instances of leakage of private information from users. The most iconic scenario was that involving marketing firm Cambridge Analytica, accused of using Mark Zuckerberg's platform to collect data from 50 million profiles and benefit then-US presidential candidate Donald Trump during the 2016 election race. .
2. What are the differences, advantages and disadvantages compared to WhatsApp?
Although the basic features of WhatsApp and Telegram are very similar and essential to the operation of instant messaging platforms, both have important differences. Here are some of the main differences, advantages and disadvantages between the two services:
- Both allow you to send text, audio, images, videos, documents, emojis, stickers and share the location with other users;
- While Telegram proposes to be an application that delivers messages with as few bytes as possible (even from unstable connections), WhatsApp accumulates a history of periods when the service was unavailable;
- On WhatsApp, the user is limited to sending files up to 100 MB. In the concurrent messenger, it is possible to send unlimited files;
- Telegram access via desktop is done independently of the mobile version. The user needs to log in only once with cell phone help and can stay connected, even through the browser. The platform does not have to have an active connection with the mobile device as required by WhatsApp;
- Messages sent on Telegram can be edited by the user and deleted for all contacts in the conversation. In the American messenger it is possible to delete the content of the sent message, but all members of the conversation see that it was not held;
- Telegram has a system of bots, robots that can be activated by the user to perform tasks such as weather access, image search, order tracking and so on. WhatsApp does not offer this service;
- File storage in the cloud is done by Telegram itself. Just send the content to yourself in a conversation. This feature also does not exist in WhatsApp, which needs to export before uploading;
- WhatsApp leads the way with over 1.5 billion active users, while Telegram has only 220 million. That way you are more likely to connect with your contact list with the Facebook app.
3. Why can Telegram be so safe?
The purpose of the social network is to provide the safest possible communication between users. Therefore, the application uses some devices that can bring this guarantee to those interested: end-to-end encryption; 256-bit AES symmetric combination, RSA 2048-bit; Diffie-Hellman secure key exchange. These tools, when combined, can deliver the privacy needed for platform users to feel comfortable in the virtual environment.
Telegram has secret chat and password lock Photo: Reproduction / Paulo Alves
The use of these features makes it possible for the Telegram user to create secret chats. With them, you can schedule message self-destruct for conversation participants, as well as prevent them from taking a print from the application screen. When the conversation is deleted, it also disappears for the other participant, and a few seconds later the chat is completely deleted. Secret chats can only be created between two devices, that is, between two users.
4. How does Telegram make money?
Telegram is free and does not serve any advertising or advertising. According to the company, the service maintained by the fund from Digital Fortress, by Pavel Durov, CEO of the platform. He has already said he believes in completely safe and cost-effective communication for users. In addition, in 2018, the company announced the creation of its own cryptocurrency, Gram, which was successful among investors and raised more than $ 850 million for the development of the project. Telegram also allows you to send digital money through the software.
According to information available on the official website of the messenger, when the financing of the service is scarce, some paid features will be released. However, the content indicates that they will not be essential to keep Telegram active and pay its expenses. The platform's creators say "profits will never be Telegram's goal."
5. Who created Telegram?
Responsible for the creation of Telegram are the Russian brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov. This latter is known as the "Mark Zuckerberg of Russia". In 2006, he was also behind the development of VK, a Russian social network equivalent to Facebook. After a year of activity, the service reached the milestone of 1 million registered users and its market value reached US $ 1.5 billion (about R $ 5.8 billion, in direct conversion).
Pavel Durov creator of Russia's largest social network and Telegram app Photo: Playback / Instagram
The fact that VK is being used by activist groups to make protests against Russian President Vladimir Putin has made Pavel Durov suffer strong political persecution, as well as demands to take down the opposition pages. After refusing to obey orders, Durov got into a political tense that led to the loss of control of the social network handed over to a Russian technology company and the exile of the country.
In 2013, the brothers went to the United States, where they created a company that would later be responsible for the development of Telegram. According to Durov, the idea for creating the messaging network came after the political problems in his home country and the need to communicate with his brother in a totally secure way.
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