Telegram Messaging Platform Introduces Encrypted Voice Calling Feature

[MacRumors]

Mobile messaging app Telegram introduced voice calls today, bringing the communications platform's secure feature list up to date and more in line with rival chat apps WhatsApp, Viber, Messenger, and Signal.

Telegram said in a blog post that the voice calls are based on the same end-to-end encryption methods as its Secret chats feature, but says it has introduced a new "key exchange mechanism" to make sure calls are even more secure.

The key verification UI we came up with in 2013 to protect against man-in-the-middle attacks served well for Telegram (and for other apps that adopted it), but for Calls we needed something easier. That's why we've improved the key exchange mechanism.

To make sure your call is 100% secure, you and your recipient just need to compare four emoji over the phone. No lengthy codes or complicated pictures!

Whenever possible, calls go over a peer-to-peer connection, "using the best audio codecs to save traffic while providing crystal-clear quality", according to Telegram. If a peer-to-peer connection can't be established, the closest server to the user is connected to instead.

Once a voice call is made, a dedicated tab for calls appears on the main screen of the app. The Voice Calls feature rolls out in Western Europe today, with the rest of the world to get them "very soon".

In addition to voice calls, the latest v3.18 version of the app also offers users direct control over the quality of videos shared over the platform. Telegram remembers the compression rate once it has been selected, and uses it as the default setting for future video uploads.

Telegram is a free download for iPhone on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Telegram Messaging Platform Introduces Encrypted Voice Calling Feature

 

[jmh600cbr]

I'd like to chat with Alena too

 

[Porco]

In another example, 'Amber' is calling 'Tim', who is not responding.

 

[reallynotnick]

Nice, I love me some Telegram. Fravorite chat app out there at the moment.

 

[CarpalMac]

Telegram is brilliant, especially the way it syncs and works across devices. I can now even send myself messages on it which is really handy for notes / attachments etc.. More and more of my friends are moving onto too.

 

[iosiseasy]

Telegram is the best communication app out there. They keep it simple, effective, and fully featured. iMessage is dog, slow, only iOS. Messenger is a mess, so many features crammed in. Telegram is fast and clean, I hope it stays that way. I have converted all my friends and family to Telegram... I even have custom bots built for my condo building notifications. Love it!

 

[vertsix]

quite simply the best messaging app

haven't used or seen a better one

 

[miknos]

Now they should just make chats end to end encrypted by default!

 

[andreiru]

Great little app.

 

[geta]

Why every time after i make calls on Telegram, i can see the call log also in the 'Recents' inside the phone app?

 

[miknos]

Why every time after i make calls on Telegram, i can see the call log also in the 'Recents' inside the phone app?

For apps to be able to make calls directly on the lock screen, they have to use CallKit API. It's very convenient but has the downside of giving that information to Apple.

Signal has an interesting workaround:
-you can receive all calls as "signal user". You can answer the call from the lock screen but won't know which (signal) contact is calling you.
-disable completely. If somebody is calling you, you have to unlock the device and open the app.
-enable CallKit. It'll work like Telegram.

 

[geta]

For apps to be able to make calls directly on the lock screen, they have to use CallKit API. It's very convenient but has the downside of giving that information to Apple.

Signal has an interesting workaround:
-you can receive all calls as "signal user". You can answer the call from the lock screen but won't know which (signal) contact is calling you.
-disable completely. If somebody is calling you, you have to unlock the device and open the app.
-enable CallKit. It'll work like Telegram.

I thought that was the reason, thanks for the clarification! Hopefully they will change this and give us the option like Signal does.

Another question - since im not using WhatsApp, is it working the same as Telegram or Signal in terms of the call logs?