Anonymous messaging app Telegram is launching a new premium service that includes access to file transfer services for the first time.
The move to monetize its services comes as Telegram's user base skyrockets worldwide, it has 700 million active users according to its latest stats and is among the top five most downloaded apps of 2022.
The new service (opens in a new tab), dubbed Telegram Premium, will offer paying users a number of new features while "retaining free access" to the main app.
What do users get?
Telegram Premium users will be able to upload and share files up to 4 GB, while free users will be capped at 2 GB.
All Telegram users can download these extra large documents, whether or not they are subscribed to Telegram Premium
Along with the company's entry into the file hosting space, Telegram Premium subscribers will also be able to download media and files at "the fastest possible speed" from their unlimited cloud storage.
Premium users are also set to get higher limits for almost everything in the app, including the ability to follow up to 1000 channels, create up to 20 chat folders with up to 200 chats each, add a fourth account to any Telegram app, pin 10 chat with the master list and save up to 10 favorite stickers.
Telegram Premium will also convert voice messages to text and allow users to rate the quality of transcripts.
Telegram Premium is now available for iOS users who have installed the latest version 8.8 of the app, but it seems that it has not been rolled out for Android users yet.
The cost of Telegram Premium is expected to vary by location, but will be €4,99 for US users.
The updates also feature a host of purely cosmetic updates, including animated profile pictures, new emojis, and premium badges.
In some countries, sponsored posts are broadcast on large public one-to-many channels. These ads will no longer appear for Telegram Premium subscribers.
However, Telegram's growth has not been without its unwelcome participants.
Experts have warned users to beware of a malware downloader that claims to be an installer for the popular communication platform Telegram.
According to cybersecurity researchers Minerva Labs, someone is distributing two files in one download: one is a legitimate Telegram installer, while the other is an AutoIT program, also a downloader, but for PurpleFox malware.