Telegram’s new verification service offers businesses affordable and secure phone number authentication.
Telegram has introduced a new service that allows businesses to authenticate customer phone numbers at a low cost of $0.01 per verification code. This new offering is designed to be faster, cheaper, and more secure than traditional SMS-based methods, and businesses will pay for the service using the TON cryptocurrency.
The new system will reduce the cost of phone number verification, which has long been a burden for companies relying on traditional SMS methods. Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov noted that while the company itself has paid hefty fees to verify its nearly billion-strong user base, this new service aims to ease that financial burden for other businesses globally.
Durov admitted that, with the low prices they are offering, he doubts the company will be able to profit from them. However, he maintained an optimistic view of how the upgrade could make services worldwide more efficient and cost-efficient.
The new update is part of Telegram’s effort to streamline services and integrate blockchain technology, with the use of TON for payments showing their ongoing support for decentralized solutions. This initiative could cut costs for companies that rely on user verification, offering an efficient and affordable alternative to existing systems.
The Telegram Verification platform also ensures that messages are delivered with zero delay, unlike the traditional SMS, which could take minutes before it gets delivered and has failure rates as high as 5%. It also offers a proven encryption protocol and verifiable apps, unlike SMS, which are not verifiable and encrypted. The lack of high-level secured protocol makes them susceptible to vulnerabilities like sender forgery, SIM swap attacks, and more
New Telegram Features: Gifts, Suspicious Activity Reporting, and Livestreaming
The phone number verification service is just one of several recent updates Telegram has rolled out. Earlier this month, the platform introduced Gifts, which users can send to loved ones. These gifts can also be exchanged for Stars, creating a fun and interactive experience for users.
An upgrade has also been made to improve the reporting of suspicious activity on the app. The reasons for reporting and the suggestions provided have been updated, giving users more options when flagging inappropriate or concerning behavior. This upgrade is designed to adapt to current trends and events.
Telegram has also enhanced its video chat functionality on iOS, improving both performance and battery life. With this upgrade, devices can sustain long calls without overheating, even with multiple video feeds and numerous participants
Telegram for Android now supports RTMP streams, enabling users to live stream directly on the app. RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) is widely used for real-time video streaming, and with this feature, users can generate a stream key to connect their video feed to Telegram.
The feature integrates with popular apps like OBS Studio and XSplit Broadcaster, allowing creators to manage professional-grade livestreams with advanced tools like multi-camera setups and overlays. This makes it easier to broadcast high-quality live content to Telegram’s audience.
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