Telegram Messenger 2.7.2

When Facebook bought WhatsApp for that obscene amount of money that we can’t even pronounce, one particular IM alternative took the spotlight and quickly became a valid contender thanks to a number of features that were previously unavailable in standard texting apps.

Background

We’re talking about Telegram, of course. A completely free messaging client for iOS that works cross-platform (Android, Windows Phone), Telegram Messenger offers one key function that avid texting fans should really look into. Hint: it’s about security.

I’ll be the first to admit I was skeptical about Telegram being any better than WhatsApp. After all, it sounded like a Johnny come latest solution any way you looked at it. But I was wrong to think that, and so are you if you’re still in the nay-sayers’ group.

Quite the elegant IMclient

Telegram looks awesome! Its chat bubbles are cleaner and less intrusive than those in WhatsApp (yes, a comparison review is unavoidable at this point), its menus simpler and with far less (unnecessary) features, the backgrounds are awesome and they actually work (unlike in WhatsApp), and the design direction is iOS 7 all the way. There’s nothing not to like from a visual standpoint.

The app comes with support for iOS 8 and iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, as well as iPad. It’s also possible to send broadcasts to multiple secret chats from the special tab and to use the “Tap and Hold to View” mode for photos and videos that will self-destruct shortly. Secret chats have a special flexible timer. 

With the help of Giphy, users can even search and send animated GIFs, which is obviously pretty useful nowadays, when the popularity of GIFs seems to have hit an all-time high.

Also important is that when you’ll get YouTube and Instagram links in a conversation, you’ll be able to preview them in the same window. 

Privacy comes first, convenience second

Of course it’s going to get compared to WhatsApp if it’s meant as an alternative, a direct rival to the $22 billion app bought by Facebook (there, I said it). It’s faster and more reliable, it feels lightweight and clutter-free, and it puts an emphasis on privacy.

In addition to all the texting and voice-messaging features you’ve come to expect from any IM client these days, Telegram actually uses end-to-end encryption for chats you want to remain completely sealed off from the rest of humanity.

The Secret Chats feature ensures that nothing is logged on the Telegram servers and you can automatically program the messages to self-destruct from both devices. Of course, no one can stop the recipient from taking a screenshot, but that stuff is out of Telegram’s jurisdiction.

Telegram allows you to determine who can see your Last Seen time by choosing between “Everybody,” “My Contacts,” and “Nobody.” Since this app is all about secrecy, you can set a period of inactivity after which your account will self-destruct, varying from one month to one year. 

Add to watchlist:

Instant messengerChat

• Kik 8.1.0
• Skype 5.11
• Strings 1.0.7
• Hangouts 3.1.0
• Signal 2.0.1

Portable version:

• Telegram for Windows Phone
• Telegram for Android