Telegram App Update Includes Video Messaging, Chat Bot Payments

Messaging app Telegram rolled out video messaging, bot payments and other features on the platform, competing with other services, like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

How To Send Telegram Video Messages

Telegram’s 4.0 update allows users to send video messages to their contacts. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go on a chat and tap the mic icon to switch to camera mode.

2. To record your message, tap and hold the icon. You can release it by swiping up and, use the stop button to end the recording (which also works with voice messages).

3. You can choose to send the message right after you’re done recording, or you can replay and trim the video before sending, or you can delete it and try again.

Read: Telegram App Introduces Encrypted Voice Calls To Compete With WhatsApp, Signal

“Video messages are so fast because Telegram compresses them and sends them even as you record them,” Telegram explained in a post.

The video messages are automatically downloaded and autoplayed, but you can change that in settings if you’re on limited data. You’ll be able to see video messages sent to you while going through other chats, as the video goes to the corner and continues paying. You can also move the video box around your device's screen and pause while on other chats.

Telegram Payments With Chat Bots

The messaging app also introduced a chat bot payment feature, which means Bot developers can now accept payments from users worldwide.

“Imagine a world where you can order pizza, pay for a pair of shoes, hire a cab, or refill your subway pass — all in a few button taps on Telegram,” the platform said in a post.

Users can order products or services from bots that are offeredon Telegram with the new update. When you hit Pay, you can fill in your shipping and payment information and confirm the transaction. Those with iOS devices will be able to make purchases with Apple Pay with Telegram’s new feature.

Read: Facebook Messenger Payment Feature: How To Send, Receive Money With FB Group Chats

You can try Telegram’s demo on the new feature, which sells time machines.

Telegram’s Instant View Platform And Telescope

Telegram also introduced its Instant View feature, which lets users read articles directly on the app, resembling Facebook’s Instant Article and Google’s AMP platform. The feature comes with settings that make reading easy for your eyes. With the update, you’ll be able to read articles in a “dark, gray, or sepia-toned environments,” and will have the ability to adjust the font type and size and turn on the “Auto-Night Theme” setting.

Telegram also rolled out Telescope, for those who like blogging. The feature allows anyone watch video messages from public channels on Telegram, even those who don’t have an account on the platform. All public Telegram channels now have a telesco.pe URL, such as telesco.pe/channel_name, where all of its video messages are available for everyone to see.