Many new features are coming to Telegram: Pavel Durov’s app is becoming more and more a real alternative to WhatsApp.
Accessing Telegram’s private groups becomes much easier thanks to QR codes. The confirmation comes from the beta version 7.5 for Android released in recent hours and that, within it, contains some interesting features that allow the direct competitor of WhatsApp to keep well ahead of its rival.
The latest release, made available for devices with Android operating system through the official channel dedicated to users registered as beta testers, anticipates some time that will be the stable version that will be made available for download as usual through the Google Play Store. No fear, however, for Apple users. In fact, all the new features related to the functioning of groups have already been spotted within the recent version of the client for macOS, dedicated to users who use the app on desktop and portable devices from Cupertino.
Telegram, access to private groups via QR
The main feature integrated on Telegram in the next release will undoubtedly be the one related to invitations in groups. If tests confirm that it works properly, the new stable version will allow access to private groups via a QR code, to be framed with the camera of the smartphone or tablet.
The introduction brings an advantage not only from the practical point of view for users (a scan instead of the link to share via message), but also for the administrators of the groups themselves. The admins will be able to manage the invitations by setting a duration of validity to the QR code, expressed in hours, days or weeks, as well as the maximum number of accesses through the same image.
Telegram, the other news
The same beta release also gives the green light to the possibility, always for administrators, to transform a standard group into a broadcast group. Among the features of this mode there is the opportunity to host an unlimited number of participants, usually limited to a maximum of 200 thousand users.
For those who are willing to take advantage of this new feature, it is right to point out that in broadcast groups are only the admins who can publish messages. Another limitation is the transformation of the type of group: once set as a broadcast group, it is not possible to convert the group back into a traditional one.
To this is added the addition of a timer for the self-destruction of messages in public groups, to be set on 24 hours or 7 days. The feature can be added by admins and once the chosen time frame has elapsed, published messages will be automatically deleted from the chat.