Users of the privacy-focused messaging software, Telegram, will soon be able to pay for new premium features.
Telegram is a free messaging service that does not yet provide any paid services. Telegram Premium customers will soon be able to take advantage of new features presently being developed by the service.
However, the corporation did not go into much detail regarding the revenue-generating plan when it first confirmed the premium tier to Techcrunch. The premium tier has a monthly cost of $4.99.
A blog post adds that Telegram Premium users will be able to send files up to 4GB in size, as well as prioritize faster downloads for those who pay for the service. Other features include a 500-to-1,000 increase in the number of channels that can be followed and the creation of an additional 20 channels that can hold up to 200 conversations each folder.
Additionally, premium users will be able to connect up to four profiles to an app, pin up to ten conversations, write a lengthier bio, and reserve up to 20 public t.me links for usage by their followers. On top of all that, there’s a feature that turns your voice into text, as well as full-screen sticker animations and custom reactions.
Ads will not appear in public channels for Premium subscribers in some countries.
Since it’s the first time an instant messaging software with such widespread use will provide a paid subscription option, Telegram claims. According to the company’s founder and chief executive Pavel Durov, who stated this earlier in June, Premium is a response to consumer demand for increased storage and data bandwidth.
As Telegram continues to grow, this step will help stabilize the company’s revenue streams. In January 2021, it had 500 million monthly active users; currently it has 700 million.