Telegram Update Brings Location-Based Chats, Add People Nearby Option, and More

[MacRumors]

Encrypted messaging platform Telegram has pushed out an update that introduces a number of new location-based features, including the ability to Add People Nearby.

Users of the chat app can open Contacts -> Add People Nearby to quickly exchange contact info with Telegram users who are standing next to them and also have the same section of the app open.

The new People Nearby section also has a new Groups Nearby option, which shows location-based group chats open for anyone around to join. Users can also Create a Local Group to unite people nearby in a new chat group.

In a previous update, Telegram also added a way for users to control who can see their phone number. This update builds on the new privacy setting by enabling users to add people to their contacts, even if they don't know their number.

This can be done simply by tapping the new Add to Contacts button at the top of every chat thread.

Elsewhere, this update also includes an option to transfer ownership rights over groups and channels to another user, a new toggle to allow message previews for specific chats, support for Siri Shortcuts, and revamped app theme settings.

Telegram is a free download for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Telegram Update Brings Location-Based Chats, Add People Nearby Option, and More

 

[hank moody]

ATM Telegram is the best messenger in the world, by far.

If you want maximum privacy and security ⇒ Secret Chats and 2FA

If you want simplicity and cloud based chats ⇒ normal chats

The possibility to delete the chat history forever in any device in that chat, location based groups/chats, infinite file storage, send receive >1,5GB files of any kind, bots for almost everything, the best stickers for free, well it is perfect.

 

[alangrehan]

ATM Telegram is the best messenger in the world, by far.

If you want maximum privacy and security ⇒ Secret Chats and 2FA

If you want simplicity and cloud based chats ⇒ normal chats

The possibility to delete the chat history forever in any device in that chat, location based groups/chats, infinite file storage, send receive >1,5GB files of any kind, bots for almost everything, the best stickers for free, well it is perfect.

I couldn't agree more. Telegram is fantastic. In the UK most people use whatsapp or facebook messenger. I've managed to get a few of my close contacts over to telegram but the inertia in people who use whatsapp is mind boggling.

Telegram is a far superior version of Whatsapp. I can't understand why people still continue to use Whatsapp knowing that Facebook is in the background with their data. Especially as it's free. the first hurdle is getting them to download telegram and you message them a few times but then a few weeks later the last seen is when you last messaged them and they're back to whatsapp!

 

[Scooz]

There are 2 covert agents nearby.

[Cancel][Add]

 

[Populus]

I couldn't agree more. Telegram is fantastic. In the UK most people use whatsapp or facebook messenger. I've managed to get a few of my close contacts over to telegram but the inertia in people who use whatsapp is mind boggling.

Telegram is a far superior version of Whatsapp. I can't understand why people still continue to use Whatsapp knowing that Facebook is in the background with their data. Especially as it's free. the first hurdle is getting them to download telegram and you message them a few times but then a few weeks later the last seen is when you last messaged them and they're back to whatsapp!

... They're back to Whatsapp because... Well, they still have all of their contacts (except you) on WhatsApp. I mean it's not easy to change from an app that uses everyone to another that only use 10-15% of the population. Most people only see the inconvenience of having to learn to use a second messaging app, and bloating their smartphones with more than one messaging app. And I can quite understand them, especially the people who has an advanced age.

I wish Telegram was more popular, and I've considered leaving Whatsapp (yeah I m from Europe) because I don't want my data to be on Facebooks hands. But it's almost impossible to change people's minds. Even if they were security breaches or the app stopped working for several hours, people don't want to change what already works.

 

[AKDub]

I originally started using Telegram as is has an app for anything - even my mums old acer laptop with linux and crappy android tablet took 5 mins to setup - but it has no mindshare at least in the UK other than a place for those c**ts with the black flag.

Telegram has no pull, and once facebook integrate instagram and WhatsApp messaging together its game over, unless Zuckerberg starts killing children and even then I think people would shrug their shoulders.

Either way I will still use it as and when I can, and continue to be the weirdo who doesn't like WhatsApp

 

[Djentleman]

... They're back to Whatsapp because... Well, they still have all of their contacts (except you) on WhatsApp. I mean it's not easy to change from an app that uses everyone to another that only use 10-15% of the population. Most people only see the inconvenience of having to learn to use a second messaging app, and bloating their smartphones with more than one messaging app. And I can quite understand them, especially the people who has an advanced age.

I wish Telegram was more popular, and I've considered leaving Whatsapp (yeah I m from Europe) because I don't want my data to be on Facebooks hands. But it's almost impossible to change people's minds. Even if they were security breaches or the app stopped working for several hours, people don't want to change what already works.

Unfortunately this is hurdle Telegram faces. Once it overcomes, it’ll be the best communicator all round.

I’ve had Telegram installed for 2 years, and it’s been a ghost town for just as long. You can lead a horse to water....

 

[Manatlt]

It’ll be the best communicator all round.

It's still missing video calls. That's pretty big.

 

[Djentleman]

It's still missing video calls. That's pretty big.

That’s true. It’s the only feature absent that the rivals have. Then again, Whatsapp’s video call quality is subpar. Most of the people I have on WhatsApp or know using it, prefer a different app for video calls.

 

[ikir]

Telegram is awesome. It just miss CarPlay and fully working Siri for all contacts (a bug shared with Android).

 

[iDento]

I deleted Telegram after one week because no one I know use it, it is all WhatsApp and Snapchat.

 

[fairuz]

I couldn't agree more. Telegram is fantastic. In the UK most people use whatsapp or facebook messenger. I've managed to get a few of my close contacts over to telegram but the inertia in people who use whatsapp is mind boggling.

Telegram is a far superior version of Whatsapp. I can't understand why people still continue to use Whatsapp knowing that Facebook is in the background with their data. Especially as it's free. the first hurdle is getting them to download telegram and you message them a few times but then a few weeks later the last seen is when you last messaged them and they're back to whatsapp!

Why should we trust the Telegram people any more than Facebook?
Btw, I've used both. Telegram's UI is bad, and it's especially confusing to use it on desktop. If you seriously care about security, it's not great either because they use an insecure homemade encryption algo for some reason. I haven't seen a feature to verify other users' pubkeys either, but WhatsApp does have that.

 

[CarpalMac]

Why should we trust the Telegram people any more than Facebook?
Btw, I've used both. Telegram's UI is bad, and it's especially confusing to use it on desktop. If you seriously care about security, it's not great either because they use an insecure homemade encryption algo for some reason. I haven't seen a feature to verify other users' pubkeys either, but WhatsApp does have that.

Bad and confusing UI? It really isn't.

 

[fairuz]

Bad and confusing UI? It really isn't.

You download the desktop app or use the web version, it takes you halfway through setting it up, then it says you actually need the mobile app first. And the mobile app signup is more painful than all the mainstream ones. There's no way my family members would figure this stuff out, and those are the people I talk to, so

 

[von-uk]

Does anyone use Viber, Open source, audited, secure & easy to set up. I have convinced a few of my non-Apple using friends & it works fine.