Telegram Testing New Premium Subscription

[MacRumors]

Popular secure messaging app Telegram is testing new monetization strategies, and hints of a new Telegram Premium subscription have shown up in the 8.7.2 beta version of the iOS app.

As noted by Android Police, the beta includes both stickers and reactions that are locked behind a paywall. Users who select these premium stickers and reactions are prompted to sign up for the Telegram Premium service, and non-subscribers cannot see the stickers or reactions as they are blocked for those who do not pay. Non-subscribers who receive a premium reaction or sticker are prompted to sign up for a subscription themselves.

As of right now, Telegram makes money through ad sales and features for group channels, but there are no add-on purchase options that target individual users. Should this new Premium feature be implemented, that could change.

It is not unusual for social networks to charge extra for premium reactions, as Twitch and Discord also have subscription options that include additional emoji and customization options. Telegram founder Pavel Durov has previously said that Telegram does not plan to charge for core features that already exist, though he did say in 2020 that additional monetization strategies would be coming.

Full details on what might be included in some kind of Telegram Premium subscription are unknown at this time, and there is no word on when the functionality might see a wider rollout following the beta test.

Article Link: Telegram Testing New Premium Subscription

 

[atomwork]

Telegram is fun, but for a subscription, I wish for more privacy and security features.

 

[ceriess]

Have they gotten their white supremacist problems under control? Last time I looked, it was all Stormfront weirdos posting.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Noooo, it needs to be free. They are making enough money with ad sales. Why does this remind me of the YouTube PIP feature?

 

[Derekuda]

If Apple would open up iMessage to everyone, we wouldn't need Telegram, Whatsapp, etc... and would all be using a superior secure messaging app.
And yet, all the apple users always never want this? Are apple users just stupid or....

 

[lucascampelo]

If Apple would open up iMessage to everyone, we wouldn't need Telegram, Whatsapp, etc... and would all be using a superior secure messaging app.
And yet, all the apple users always never want this? Are apple users just stupid or....

Only US folks think that. I wouldn’t use iMessage by default even if it was pre-installed on every phone ever released. iMessage is hugely behind in features (and it also needs more bandwidth to send messages, making it slower than the competition).

 

[zorinlynx]

Have they gotten their white supremacist problems under control? Last time I looked, it was all Stormfront weirdos posting.

What groups are you hanging out in that are full of people like that? There's no such people in the groups I'm in.

Personally I'd leave any group where the moderators tolerate that kind of content.

 

[stiligFox]

As long as I'm still free to use my own sticker pack, honestly, I'm all for Telegram monetizing their business. They have one of the best featured chat apps out there and when I have the funds, I'll gladly support them.

I haven't given them a dime and yet they provide a wealth of services to me. Seems only fair to support the company at least a little...

 

[4jasontv]

Only US folks think that. I wouldn’t use iMessage by default even if it was pre-installed on every phone ever released. iMessage is hugely behind in features (and it also needs more bandwidth to send messages, making it slower than the competition).

LOL Huh????? What 'feature' does a messaging app need? iMessage already works with every single phone ever released.

 

[atomwork]

Have they gotten their white supremacist problems under control? Last time I looked, it was all Stormfront weirdos posting.

LOL. Good to know in what groups you are in. For the rest of us, it's just a fun messaging app with cool UIUX. Edit: actually what I like is that I can use it on my S22Ultra and iPhone 13ProMax. Whatsapp doesn't.

 

[lucascampelo]

LOL Huh????? What 'feature' does a messaging app need? iMessage already works with every single phone ever released.

The list of features disparities is just too big for me to go through. You should check out telegram’s change log from the last 4 years or so if you’re interested. (Also implementation matters. Replies are done better in telegram, for example)

And by “even if worked with every phone ever released” I meant iMessage on Android. It falls back to SMS between apple devices and android phones.

 

[nymphe]

Living in Germany and using WhatsApp and telegram regularly. Telegram is by far superior than other chat apps, and very fast. I know all chats are not encrypted by default but still it is almost my default app for communication.

I don’t like iMessage since iChat era. It was almost always unreliable to me. However I’m using it now for video and audio FaceTime, so it stays.

Every time I have to switch my SIM card, iMessage deactivates itself and I hate it is keeping registering this number. Because I travel a lot, I have to use multiple sims.

Well it goes out of topic now. As a telegram user I like to use all those stickers with my girlfriend, but if they are going monetize those type of basic features I hope they don’t remove all of those features.

 

[nvmls]

Only US folks think that. I wouldn’t use iMessage by default even if it was pre-installed on every phone ever released. iMessage is hugely behind in features (and it also needs more bandwidth to send messages, making it slower than the competition).

You can tell iMessage only users have no idea what a decent messaging service is like ?

 

[alexandr]

Have they gotten their white supremacist problems under control? Last time I looked, it was all Stormfront weirdos posting.

Yea, I don't think telegram is the problem)))

 

[alexandr]

Man, I hope they don't limit any of the existing features to premium. I love the video message bubbles, but not enough to pay for them)

 

[4jasontv]

The list of features disparities is just too big for me to go through. You should check out telegram’s change log from the last 4 years or so if you’re interested. (Also implementation matters. Replies are done better in telegram, for example)

And by “even if worked with every phone ever released” I meant iMessage on Android. It falls back to SMS between apple devices and android phones.

All a messaging app needs to do is send and receive messages. So if it works with other SMS apps than it works with all phones.

 

[alexandr]

LOL Huh????? What 'feature' does a messaging app need? iMessage already works with every single phone ever released.

What does need even have to do with this? It's about want, and people tend to want features. You don't need iMessages either btw.

 

[alexandr]

All a messaging app needs to do is send and receive messages. So if it works with other SMS apps than it works with all phones.

Thank god you're not in charge of innovation...

 

[4jasontv]

Thank god you're not in charge of innovation...

Name one thing a messaging app needs to do that another app can't already do. Seriously, name just one thing.

 

[alexandr]

Name one thing a messaging app needs to do that another app can't already do. Seriously, name just one thing.

Please see my other reply to you — it addresses the question of need.

 

[4jasontv]

Please see my other reply to you — it addresses the question of need.

Historically speaking, people don't know what they want and often choose poorly when given options. Just adding features is how you get the train wreck that is Android. So if it's not a need it doesn't have a place.

 

[contacos]

Paying for stickers, what year is this? Reminds me of Jamba and those 2,99€ Nokia wallpapers / ringtones in the 00s

 

[alexandr]

Historically speaking, people don't know what they want and often choose poorly when given options. Just adding features is how you get the train wreck that is Android. So if it's not a need it doesn't have a place.

Yes it does have a place — we're happy to use it. I was always an advocate for 'messages', but it's much slower than any other app, it has a much higher undeliverey rates. If you're not in a good service area — forget about it. You're welcome to keep using it(I still do), but don't decide for us please.

 

[antiprotest]

If Apple would open up iMessage to everyone, we wouldn't need Telegram, Whatsapp, etc... and would all be using a superior secure messaging app.
.

That is, until fake police shows up with fake warrants and Apple hands all your data over, and they were able to do exactly that because of their fake end to end encryption. iMessage is not secure.

 

[Derekuda]

All a messaging app needs to do is send and receive messages. So if it works with other SMS apps than it works with all phones.

Messaging apps should be able to send full size videos, pictures, audio clips, online status, read reciepts, and be encrypted. Let me know when your SMS does all these things.
We are half way there with RCS, but Apple won't adhere to new standards.... It's the same reason why you are still using lighting ports on iphones while the rest of apples products use USB-C.