Telegram Addresses Promises of Free Service and No Ads Amid Feature Expansion
Long-time users of Telegram often recall founder Pavel Durov’s initial pledge that the messaging platform would remain free and ad-free. In response to these recurring reminders, Telegram’s official account on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has issued a statement clarifying their stance. According to the messenger’s representatives, Durov’s original promise still holds true, albeit with a necessary nuance considering the platform’s evolution.
Telegram’s developers point out that since the initial announcement, the messenger has grown significantly, incorporating numerous additional functionalities such as public channels and mini-applications. They argue that if a user utilizes Telegram in its original, basic form – focusing solely on personal messages and group chats – they will indeed never encounter advertisements. Furthermore, core features like contact search will remain accessible without any subscription fees.
However, Telegram’s representatives explain that the more advanced features that were not part of the platform at the time of Durov’s original statement require substantial resources to maintain and develop. Therefore, providing these newer functionalities entirely for free is not sustainable. This implicitly justifies the introduction of features like Telegram Premium, which offers enhanced capabilities for paying users.
Despite the introduction of premium features and potential future monetization avenues for advanced functionalities (as hinted at previously with paid channel messages), Telegram assures its user base that they are still actively working on developing new free features aimed at improving the overall user experience. This suggests a continued commitment to providing a robust and valuable messaging platform for all users, while acknowledging the need to fund ongoing development and infrastructure for more complex features.
In essence, Telegram’s current position suggests a distinction between its core, original functionalities, which remain free and ad-free as promised, and newer, more resource-intensive features that may require payment to access or support their development. This nuanced approach attempts to honor the initial commitment while adapting to the evolving needs and capabilities of a modern messaging platform.