Telegram has added group calls and business account automation

      Telegram has introduced an update: now the messenger supports secure group calls for up to 200 people, allows you to connect AI bots to business accounts and appeal against profile freezing directly in the application. In addition, there are new gestures and advanced gift settings. All functions are already available to users.

       Telegram continues to increase its functionality. A new update has added a whole set of tools that affect both everyday communication and business correspondence. The main innovation is the ability to make group calls of up to 200 participants without creating a shared chat. You can add interlocutors via a link, a QR code, or a standard invitation during a call. This approach significantly simplifies the organization of workshops and multi-user discussions.

       For larger—scale events, group voice and video chats are still available, with the ability to connect tens of thousands of participants. All calls are protected by end—to-end encryption and additionally by a technology "similar to blockchain", which, according to the developers, eliminates hidden connection to the conversation - even from Telegram itself. Users can verify the reliability of the connection by checking the emojis displayed on the screens of all participants.

       The update also affected Telegram Premium and business accounts: users can now connect third-party chatbots, including AI services, and configure their access, from deleting messages to publishing stories. In total, more than ten new functions have been added to automate account management. This can be especially useful for companies working with clients via Telegram, or for teams leading projects inside the messenger.

       The possibility to appeal the profile freeze has also been introduced: if Telegram has restricted access on suspicion of violating the rules, the user can now file an appeal without leaving the application. While it is being reviewed, the account remains frozen — without the ability to write to others, but with the right to contact the moderators. In case of confirmation of innocence, the restrictions are lifted.

       Pavel Durov's statement adds context to this function: according to him, Telegram transmits IP addresses and phone numbers of users upon official requests from law enforcement agencies. And the Minister of Digital Development of the Russian Federation, Maksut Shadaev, commenting on the possibility of blocking content in Telegram, admitted that there are technical means, but there are no plans to use them yet.

       There are also new gestures in Telegram. On iOS and Android, you can now forward a message in one motion — just hold down the send button and drag it to the desired chat. Added quick access to creating stories. The gift management functions have expanded in the settings: you can choose which gifts are displayed in the profile, which types are acceptable, and who can send them. Telegram claims that users exchange more than 10 million gifts every month.

       The platform itself continues to grow steadily. According to Durov, Telegram is used by more than 1 billion monthly active users. On average, a person logs into the app 21 times a day and spends 41 minutes in it. Telegram ranks second in popularity among messengers in the world, after WhatsApp, excluding Chinese WeChat.