Telegram is a messaging software application that was co-founded in 2013 by Nikolai and Pavel Durov. This platform is known for its unique capabilities, such as cloud storage, message editing and deletion, and social networking features. Its additional attributes include the ability to import chat histories from other platforms and the provision of translation[2] options, reactions, stickers, and message scheduling. Telegram also offers privacy[3] and security[4] features like SMS[5] verification, two-step verification, and recovery email[6] options. Initially funded by Pavel Durov, Telegram has grown significantly over the years, and as of March 2024, it had over 900 million monthly active users[1]. While the company’s end goal is not profit-oriented, it has explored various monetization strategies, including public bonds placements and the potential introduction of non-targeted ads and paid features.
Telegram Messenger, commonly known as Telegram, is a cloud-based, cross-platform, encrypted instant messaging (IM) service. It was originally launched for iOS on 14 August 2013 and Android in October 2013. It allows users to exchange messages, share media and files, and hold private and group voice or video calls as well as public livestreams. It is available for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and web browsers. Telegram also offers end-to-end encryption in voice and video calls, and in optional private chats, which Telegram calls Secret Chats.
Developer(s) | Telegram FZ LLC Telegram Messenger Inc. | ||||||||
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Initial release | 14 August 2013 | ||||||||
Stable release(s) [±] | |||||||||
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Repository | |||||||||
Written in | Desktop: C++, C, Java, Python Android: Java | ||||||||
Platform | Android, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web platform | ||||||||
Available in | 66 (officially 12) languages | ||||||||
List of languages Chinese (Beta), English, Russian, Persian, Turkish, Italian, Arabic, Ukrainian, Kazakh, Uzbek, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Dutch, French, Japanese (Beta), Korean, Indonesian, Malay, Belarusian, Catalan, Polish, Finnish, Hebrew | |||||||||
Type | Instant messaging | ||||||||
License | GNU GPLv3 only with OpenSSL linking exception (clients), proprietary (server) | ||||||||
Website | telegram |
Founded | March 2013 |
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Headquarters | Tortola, British Virgin Islands (legal domicile) Dubai, United Arab Emirates (operational center) |
Area served | Worldwide |
Founder(s) | |
CEO | Pavel Durov |
Industry | Software |
URL | telegram |
Telegram also has social networking features, allowing users to post stories, create large public groups with up to 200,000 members, or share one-way updates to unlimited audiences in so-called channels. The service also provides an open API for the creation of custom bots which can perform various tasks, integrate other services into Telegram chats, or work as mini apps.
Telegram was founded in 2013 by Nikolai and Pavel Durov. Its servers are distributed worldwide, while the headquarters are in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Telegram is the most popular instant messaging application in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
As of March 2024,[update] Telegram has more than 900 million monthly active users, with India leading in the number of users. It was the most downloaded app worldwide in January 2021 with 1 billion downloads globally as of late August 2021.