Telegram has added several new features, including group video calls to its mobile and desktop versions of the encrypted messaging application to rival others like Zoom.
“Voice chats in any group can now seamlessly turn into group video calls — just tap the camera icon to switch your video on,” the company said in a blog post.
However, there are some limitations to the new feature, which allow only 30 users to participate in the group video call despite audio calls allowing unlimited number of users to join the call.
Telegram has promised that the limit on group video calls will be increased soon.
Moreover, you can tap a video to have it go full screen and you can also pin a video on the screen to keep it in place as other people join the group video call.
Telegram has also added animated backgrounds and message animations. “Meet animated backgrounds for chats — first time in a messaging app!” it said. “These multi-color gradient wallpapers are generated algorithmically and move beautifully every time you send a message.”
The encrypted messengers gained a lot of traction recently when WhatsApp announced some changes to its privacy policy allowing Telegram to reach 500 million active users.
Read more: WhatsApp won’t limit features for not accepting privacy policy.
