Forget Zoom — Telegram is adding group video calls next month

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Forget Zoom — Telegram is adding group video calls next month

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Telegram is about to take on the likes of Zoom and Skype. All thanks to a new update that promises to add group video calls and video conferencing to the private messaging app.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced this news on his personal Telegram channel yesterday afternoon, noting the update won't just affect the mobile app either, with web-based video conferencing also on the way.

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Despite everything that'southward happened during the coronavirus pandemic, and the rise in popularity of services like Zoom, Telegram has been incredibly tiresome to arrange.

In fact Telegram merely added support for video calls last Baronial, so it'south been very slow off the marking in this respect. Particularly since the other all-time encrypted messaging apps have been offering these features for years.

Zoom has moved faster, but has been criticised for its poor handling of security and its seeming reluctance to offer end-to-end encryption to free users.

But things are changing for Telegram and Durov promises that Telegram will be getting "everything you can expect from a mod video conferencing tool." That includes screen sharing, encryption, noise-cancelling, desktop and tablet support, merely bundled into Telegram's own UI, speed, and encryption.

The only question we have is whether the group video calls will exist end-to-end encrypted, and whether it will be switched on past default. Because that'due south not the case with its instant messaging, with users forced to switch on the "secret chats" function for every individual contact.

Fortunately Telegram'southward solo video calls were end-to-stop encrypted, and hopefully that will be carried over to the group expansion. But the fact that at that place's whatsoever amount of doubt shows that Telegram needs to endeavour harder. Especially given criticisms and claims that Telegram'due south custom make of encryption may not be as secure as it could be.

It may exist one of the best WhatsApp alternatives, but you tin can understand why people in the know tend to recommend the privacy-first Signal messenger instead.

Durov didn't specify an verbal date for the group video telephone call rollout, just that information technology'due south happening in May. So it could be anytime within the adjacent calendar week to the next month.

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Tom is the Tom's Guide'south Automotive Editor, which ways he can commonly exist institute knee deep in stats the latest and best electric cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. It's long manner from his days as editor of Gizmodo Britain, when pretty much everything was on the tabular array. He'southward commonly found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set up onto the shelf, draining very large cups of java, or complaining that Ikea won't let him buy the stuff he really needs online.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/forget-zoom-telegram-is-adding-group-video-calls-next-month

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