Telegram brings Star Messages, Chromecast support and more

Telegram has returned with a fresh set of enhancements for both developers and ordinary users of its instant messaging software. These new capabilities give them greater control over their privacy and improved monetisation possibilities as the company prepares for spring improvements.

If you frequently share videos on Telegram, you can cast them to a Chromecast-enabled device without leaving the app and enjoy them on a larger screen. According to Telegram, the feature is already accessible on Android devices and allows you to select the playback speed and quality, as well as play the video on repeat.

Those who receive a large number of messages every day might utilise Star Messages to filter out unnecessary chats from their inbox. They can charge a fee for messages from persons not on their contact list. This cost is paid in Telegram Stars, a virtual currency used to purchase digital items, rather than straight cash.

In other words, Star Messages provides consumers with peace of mind while also earning some extra money. The feature requires a Telegram Premium account and works with groups and channel discussions.

Users can use a slider to determine how many Stars to charge per message. They receive 85% of the selected charge, with the balance going to Telegram. Users can, however, enable certain people to message them without charging a fee or request an immediate refund of the cost after a message has been delivered.

Speaking about unknown individuals, Telegram now displays a complete information page to help senders avoid scams and impersonators. The details screen can display a variety of information, such as their nationality, any shared groups, whether their account is legitimate, when they joined Telegram, and when they last updated their user name or profile image.

Stars gained from new senders or elsewhere can now be used to purchase a Telegram Premium subscription or give it to others. Users and groups may also use Fragment to withdraw these stars and convert them into prizes for TONNE blockchain collectibles, Telegram Ads, and other services.

Businesses can already use Telegram's infrastructure to authenticate their customers' phone numbers instead of using regular SMS. The company claims that their Verification Platform is approximately nine times cheaper than comparable offerings.

Its enhanced Verification Platform now enables developers to reduce unnecessary costs. They can choose a maximum delivery period for a code; if it is not delivered within that time frame, the payment is instantly returned.