Applications

Telegram encourages skipping Google Play to download its Android application ‘without restrictions’

Do you want to have your Telegram application more updated and with a greater number of functions? So then stop downloading it from the Google Play Store: Telegram has enabled a parallel path on its website so that anyone can install the APK file. According to Telegram, to avoid restrictions.

Telegram is a relatively open messaging platform that allows the creation of clients in order to connect applications with their servers. By default, the company maintains the development of an official mobile application (two if we count Telegram X, an app that ended up buying telegram), also on computers and on the web. Of course, in desktop systems it offers separate versions of those included in the app stores. Interestingly, this move now applies to Android.

Telegram plans changes to the Android app that Google could restrict

Telegram Apk Web

It is not the first company of a certain size to decide to explore the parallel paths to the official app stores since there is Epic Games with its Fortnite, for example (although by obligation more than by own decision). Even WhatsApp offers the latest versions of its software on Android through the platform’s website. And Telegram does something similar from now on.

If we go to the Telegram website we can download the latest APK of the Android application. This must be installed in the same way as the rest of the files of its type: by prior authorization of the user since the risk of parallel installation to Google Play is higher.

Telegram ensures that the version it distributes from its website ‘has fewer restrictions‘. We still don’t know what this means specifically since, at the moment, Telegram does not need to assume limitations of Google Play because it does not offer services that may conflict with the developer’s terms of use. Analyzing the possible causes of movement, we come up with the following two:

  • Telegram could anticipate a limitation in the content of the channels. The freedom that Telegram users have allows the creation of channels whose content could violate Google’s terms. By freely publishing the Telegram application, you would not have to further censor your platform.
  • Telegram would be proposing its own payment gateway to sell Premium services without paying commissions to Google. This is the most plausible option since, as confirmed by Telegram itself, the company wants to monetize its services by offering Premium services under payment. By distributing an app from outside of Google Play Telegram you could save all subscription fees.

Be that as it may, the truth is that having an official way to download the updated application from outside of Google Play is good news. What does not seem so fair to us is that Telegram plans to update the ‘parallel’ app more frequently than the one distributed through the Android store. Because they are different, even now.

The Google Play app and Telegram’s own are different

Telegram makes it clear on its website: the app downloaded in APK updates automatically from company servers. This will imply a higher rate of updates and more immediacy, as is currently the case: version 7.6 is available on Google Play; Telegram directly distributes version 7.7.

We have checked one version with the other and both differ in the developer signature, in the package name (‘org.telegram.messenger’ for Google Play and ‘org.telegram.messenger.web’ for the APK), the icon It is different and the options also vary minimally. This implies that It is impossible to update the version of Google Play with the direct APK of Telegram, not the other way around– Both are installed as a separate application.

It is impossible to update Telegram from Google Play with the APK version and vice versa: both are different applications

At present there are no major differences than certain new features in the web version (the programming of audio chats on the channels, for example), but everything will change as Telegram incorporates the changes that have led it to separate its developments for Android. It will surely not take us too long to discover where its developers want the messaging platform to turn.

Telegram

Telegram

  • Developer: Telegram FZ-LLC
  • Download it at: Google play
  • Download it at: Telegram (APK)
  • Price: Free
  • Category: Communication

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