Telegram brings video calling support for Android and iOS users

2020 has been about virtual communication over video calls, and with the launch of the video calling feature, Telegram aims to become more than just a messaging app.

Telegram has announced the alpha version of its video calling feature on both Android and iOS. You can start a video call from your contact's profile page, and switch video on or off during voice calls. Like all other video content on Telegram, video calls support picture-in-picture mode, allowing you to scroll through chats between the ongoing video call. 

Telegram says all video calls are protected with end-to-end encryption and to confirm your connection, you can compare the four emoji shown on-screen for you and your chat partner - if they match, your call is secured by time-tested encryption also used in Telegram's Secret Chats and Voice Calls. 

"Our apps for Android and iOS have reproducible builds, so anyone can verify encryption and confirm that their app uses the exact same open-source code that we publish with each update," noted Telegram in its official post. 

The company further added that the app will receive group video calling support and other improvements in future.

Besides introducing the video calling feature, Telegram has also added a bunch of new animated emoji. If you wish to get one of those, you can send a message with a single emoji.

Telegram was launched back in 2013 as a messaging app and since then, it has garnered over 400 million users across the world.

The company claims that it is the top 10 most-downloaded apps, and is used all over the world to stay in touch with family, collaborates with classmates and coordinate coworkers. With the introduction of video calling support, the app will become more than just a messaging platform. readmore