Telegram, a messaging app, is gearing up to compete with Meta’s WhatsApp and Messenger by introducing new features tailored for businesses and revenue-sharing opportunities through ads. The newly launched Telegram Business offers various options such as a customizable start page, business hours setting, preset replies, chatbots, tags for chats, and more.
Moreover, public channels on Telegram with at least 1,000 subscribers can now earn 50% of the ad revenue generated from their channels.
These developments come shortly after Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, expressed his expectation of the app turning profitable by 2025, especially with the app boasting over 900 million users.
Telegram Business is a premium offering that is positioned towards profitability leading up to a potential IPO. Users are required to subscribe to the paid Premium version to access its features.
Telegram Premium is a subscription service priced at $4.99 per month on iOS and Android, with various duration plans available. As of December 2022, Telegram Premium surpassed one million subscribers, growing rapidly to five million subscribers by January 2024.
Businesses utilizing Telegram Business can benefit from tools and features without the need for coding knowledge. These features include setting business hours, customized greetings, preset messages, away messages, and chat categorization.
Businesses can take advantage of features like quick replies, custom greetings, away messages, and chat categorization using colored labels, making customer engagement and management more efficient.
Additionally, businesses can create links for actions such as tracking orders or making reservations, and integrate Telegram bots for automated interactions with customers.
Future updates for Telegram Business may include AI-powered chatbots, as hinted by Durov, aiming to further enhance business communication on the platform.
Overall, Telegram’s business features introduce competition in a market dominated by Meta’s apps and Apple Messages for Businesses. The new features are accessible through Telegram Premium subscriptions without additional costs.
In addition to Premium subscriptions, Telegram generates revenue through ad placements and recently started a revenue-sharing program using toncoin, a token on the TON blockchain. The company has also explored blockchain technology for other initiatives and services.
