Popular messaging app, Telegram Messenger has now added the video call option to its features on iOS and android in a recent update marking its seven-year presence in the messaging app world. The company made the announcement via a post on twitter.
Telegram Video Calls
Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging and voice over Internet Protocol service which has registered over 365 million downloads worldwide, according to Sensor Tower. This puts it in the top ten most downloaded apps in the world.
The company is leveraging on its global status with the newly launched fast and secure video call feature which now qualifies its app as also being a video telephony service. Prior to the new development, Telegram users on Android and iOS could only send and receive messages, exchange photos, videos, audio, stickers and other file types.
2020 highlighted the need for face-to-face communication and our alpha version of video calls is now available on both Android and iOS. You can start a video call from your contact’s profile page, and switch video on or off at any time during voice calls.
Telegram statement
Telegram video calls enable picture-in-picture mode which supports multitasking such that participants can scroll through chats, exchange messages and media while still maintaining face-to-face contact.
The video call feature on Telegram currently offers end-to-end encrypted single-user video interaction of not more than two people. The alpha version on iOS and android has not yet been enabled to feature more than two participants. This may be a concern considering the fact that its rival, Mark Zuckerberg’s WhatsApp, allows for up to eight participants in one video call session.
The company has said that it is working to launch its group video call feature.
Extra Animated Emojis
Telegram has also added another set of animated emojis to the present crop. Once a user sends a message with a single emoji in a chat, the existing batch of emojis refreshes to include the newly added ones.
These updates are currently available for users worldwide on both the android and iOS operating systems.
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