Telegram takes on Zoom

Telegram developers are working on expanding the messenger's functionality to make it more convenient for business communication. 

A new feature, «Конференции» (Conferences), has already appeared in beta mode — group calls that could serve as an alternative to Zoom and other video platforms.

What is known about the new feature

Telegram developers have quietly added «Конференции» (Conferences) to the app, which are не привязаны к группам и каналам (not tied to groups and channels). This means users will be able to создавать видеоконференции без необходимости заводить отдельные чаты (create video conferences without the need to set up separate chats).

Another key feature is the ability for присоединения участников после начала звонка (participants to join after the call has started). Unlike standard group calls, there is no longer a need to add people to the conversation in advance — simply sending an invitation is sufficient.