Gifts, Verification Platform and More
Users can now send Gifts to their friends. The recipients of gifts can display them on their profile pages or turn them into Stars. Telegram Stars can be used for many things, including supporting creators and buying services in mini apps.
Additionally, Telegram launched a platform for businesses to verify customer phone numbers: this new verification platform lets users easily confirm their phone numbers by receiving a code via Telegram and will cost businesses just $0.01 per user. We've also improved video chats, added new ways to report content on Telegram — and more.
Gifts
Telegram users can now send each other gifts for Telegram Stars — celebrating holidays and congratulating contacts with animated artwork and custom messages.
Just in case you need to give a unicorn instead of a star. 
When you receive a gift, you can display it on the new 'Gifts' tab of your profile — or discard the gift and get some of its Stars to spend elsewhere, including on more gifts.
To send a gift, open the user's profile and tap ⋮ / ⋯ > Send a Gift. You can add any message or emoji.
Just in case the unicorn needs explaining.
When sending a gift, you can choose to hide your name. The recipient will still know who sent it, but nobody else will see your name if the gift is displayed on their profile.
Verification Platform
We know from our own experience how expensive it can be for businesses to verify phone numbers of their customers. Starting today, any business, app or website can send verification codes via Telegram and pay for them on Fragment. Telegram codes are faster, cheaper, more secure and convenient than SMS or other alternatives.
Just in case you don't want to spend half your company's budget on codes.
Users will instantly receive messages with codes in a special chat inside Telegram.
Telegram's Gateway API is completely free to test. Interested developers can learn more in our detailed guide.
Improved Reporting Interface
Each day, Telegram moderators remove millions of pieces of content that violates our Terms of Service. All Telegram apps allow users to report messages to moderators.
To improve moderators' ability to process reports at scale and further improve our AI capabilities, the reporting menu has been expanded with detailed options for each category. For example, a message can now be reported as Scam or Spam > 'Phishing', rather than simply 'Spam'.
Just in case you need to report precisely that.
To report a message, tap on Android, hold on iOS or right-click on Desktop or Web and select 'Report'.
Redesigned Video Chats on iOS
Video chats on iOS have been rebuilt from scratch to increase performance and improve battery life.
This also means that devices now stay dramatically cooler on long calls — even with multiple video feeds from dozens of participants.
Just in case you already have warm gloves.
Video chats on Telegram let you show your camera and share your screen at the same time.
RTMP Streams on Android
Telegram for Android now has support for livestreaming with RTMP — allowing you to generate a stream key and connect your video feed to popular apps like OBS Studio and XSplit Broadcaster.
Just in case androids dream of RTMP streams.
RTMP streams are available on all Telegram apps — they were first introduced on iOS and Desktop in 2022.
That's all for today, we'll be working on new features while you're busy unpacking gifts.
October 5, 2024
The Telegram Team