Telegram update: New features rolled out - Topics in Groups, Collectible Usernames and more

Telegram update: The cloud-based instant messaging service Telegram Messenger on Monday launched major updates to its application. Telegram Messenger in its latest update has rolled-out Topics in Groups, Collectible Usernames, new interfaces for operating systems and more to enhance the user chat experience. 

Moreover, the platform brings some unique features for its premium users such as Voice-to-text for video messages. Earlier, the premium users were only able to transcribe voice messages. A bunch of 12 new emoji packs have also been added to Telegram Premium.  The app has also released several interface-driven updates for Android, iOS and desktop apps.

In the latest blog by Telegram’s CEO & Founder, Pavel Durov wrote, “I feel particularly excited about today’s Telegram update. It adds topics to large groups, transforming these linear chats into slick mobile-friendly versions of good old Internet Forums. Take a look at the new Telegram features here.

Groups with more than 200 members can now enable "Topics" and create a separate space for any topic so that chats within the group can be easily read. Users can now assign multiple "Collectible Usernames" to each of their accounts and publicly accessible channels on Telegram, so others can find and contact them easily.

"Topics today come packed with lots of features including the ability to close and pin topics, flexible notification options and lots of fun animated emoji to be used as topic icons. Taking advantage of the two-week delay caused by Apple's review, we have begun to expand these new threaded groups into something even more powerful," Durov added.

The feature was previously available to premium users to convert any voice message to text, for times when it was more convenient to read than listen along, the company added. Also, the platform introduced 12 new emoji packs for premium users so that they can use these emojis in any message and caption.