WhatsApp or Telegram

Once again the genre of messaging once again has an active battle regarding applications And it is that for several months a powerful alternative is trying to stand up to the hegemonic WhatsApp This is Telegram, a messaging tool that has been presented to the public as the safest option to establish contact with other users through Internet, totally free and with options that not evenWhatsApp offers.In tuexpertoAPPS we want to put these two applications face to face to see if all that is said is true, analyzing the most outstanding points.

Design

It is the first point that hits when putting these two applications face to face. And it is that the usual thing up to now is to see how the new messaging tools seek to distance themselves from the appearance of WhatsApp , marking their own lines and trying to stand out on their own merits. A point that may have achieved the opposite by moving away from the simplicity of the most used application. That is why Telegram follows the path of WhatsApp, almost blatantly copying itsvisual aspect in some characteristics. It stands out above all the buttons to send messages, the button to display the Share menu or even the collection of Emoji emoticons that it brings with it.But it is not the only aspect.

The design of Telegram also shares with WhatsApp the concept of simplicity having two general screens. One intended to collect all the contacts that also have this application in a list to start a conversation directly. The other screen is that of the active chats, where you can find the individual or group conversations for continue them at any time, and that are presented as soon as you start the application. And even more. Within each conversation it is possible to customize the background to have a tool adapted to the tastes of the user. A series of backgrounds with patterns and colors that can be chosen from the Settings menu. A point very similar to WhatsApp, although in his case the variety of funds is more scarce.

Functioning

Regarding the time of handling both Telegram and WhatsAppthe same idea is echoed: ease and simplicity And it is that in both cases you only have to enter the telephone numberto create and associate your user account to the terminal. And after that, start chatting.

Perhaps again looking to repeat one of the strong points of WhatsApp, Telegram has decided to imitate its mechanics, although with some interesting differences. Its managers ensure that the operation of this messaging tool is decentralized, using servers located all over the world. This makes the service very agile and practically immediate when it comes to sending and receiving messages, as well as avoiding all kinds of failures, in theory, by never crashing if a server gives problems.An issue in which WhatsApp has already given several scares, leading to service failures almost monthly for several hours. It is clear that the volume of users and messages is enormous, having surpassed last New Year's Eve the 54 billion total messages

Other aspects such as the consumption of battery seem to be equal, being tools that do not undermine the daily duration of the terminal as if it doesLINE. And it is that the simplicity in its operation and its design has this reward.

Even so in this regard Telegram I would stand out for other small details such as more abundant group conversations , despite being counterproductive, or with a double check service that ensures when the interlocutor you have read the message, and not just that it was received.Points that most users may like.

Security

This is one of the strong points of Telegram An issue that, however, must be taken with a grain of s alt. It is true that WhatsApp has been ported on numerous occasions through back doors and failures that allowed in rarely and under certain situations (such as being connected to a public WiFi network). Issues that can lead to cases of phishing, theft of personal data and other issues. However, they are not very widespread problems. Of course, sending the encryption code without protection in the message itself is not a complete security hit either.

Now, Telegram promises to avoid all that thanks to several keys.One of them is its already mentioned decentralized service, which prevents all data traffic and messages from passing through the same place. The other point is that they are sure of the tool they have built, encrypting and protecting the information that goes out and enters the terminals. Something that can be verified thanks to the fact that it is an open source tool, where any user with knowledge about programming can verify this fact. So much so that Telegram offers $200,000 to any hacker capable of circumventing the security of its service.

Of course, it is still too early to state any privacy issues or security of the application. And it is that in the case of WhatsApp has been the victim of his own fame, where the User volume makes it tempting to scrutinize any issue to spy on other people's messages or find problems.Therefore, the claim that Telegram is more secure is a matter that only time and the expertise of hackers will tell , although from the beginning it seems like a tool with more protections than WhatsApp

Telegram bonus points over WhatsApp

The basic issues of both applications seem quite similar, trying to imitate each other or moving in areas that are difficult to contrast. Now, Telegram has arrived stomping thanks to its extra points on WhatsApp And it is that he has earned the headlines from tough rivals for his chances.

First of all it is a completely free app, with no subscriptions, no ads, no in-app purchases at the moment. A whole point in their favor compared to the people who refuse to pay a little less than one euro for a service that is used daily in WhatsApp, or against those who do not have a payment method or a credit card to carry out the subscription renewal.But it is only one of the incentives of this new competitor.

Another key is the lack of limits when sharing files. A relative limit since it is not possible to send files larger than 1 GB in weight A margin large enough to share videos and photos in high quality, away from the pixelated, reduced and sometimes cropped videos that circulate on WhatsApp

Along with this there are also conversations or private chats A function that includes another of the most powerful current movements within the scope of the messaging and made fashionable by the application Snapchat: the messages ephemeral or that self-destruct In this way the users of Telegram can establish a communication that will have the hours counted to avoid that these messages, photos or videos are reproduced.And it is that they end up destroying themselves after a time determined by the user, preventing messages and contents from being forwarded and with a unique protection key of user to user Of course, there is always the possibility of making a capture screen of the content, which destroys the meaning of this function.

In addition, Telegram has open source, which It means knowing how it works and imitating it and distributing it through clients and own applications that developers create to exploit some of its points or accommodate it to the needs of users. Issue related to the emergence of multiplatform Telegram applications, being able to take it to computers and almost anywhere device with internet connection. Another weak point of WhatsApp

Strengths of WhatsApp over Telegram

In the first place, and being the current key why other tools have not achieved the first place in the field of messaging, is its number of users A figure that has already exceeded 400 million active users per month and that is the sure bet where to find family and friends with those to chat with. Something that could change over time, but that continues to demonstrate to the alternatives that, even if it is paid, it is the most chosen option.

audiomessages and songs are one of pending issues in Telegram Something that in WhatsApp have been able to exploit with the function Push to talk Something that may not see widespread use, but is a real convenience when you can't typecomfortably. It is also a simple and comfortable channel to share songs of music.

Next to this there is also the option of broadcasts A function that allows you to send a same message to a large number of contacts in a simple and direct way, without linking recipients to each other. Something that ordinary users would only use to publicize urgent information, but which is beginning to be used as a communication channel and marketing by some businesses , which announce offers and discounts through WhatsApp

Conclusions

In short, a battle that on this occasion does seem to come face to face, with a rival at the height or perhaps stronger . And it is that Telegram presents enough extra functions to surpass WhatsApp, without straying from its basic lines and their simplicityLess restrictions, more privacy and security, easy operation”¦ Features that are technically and functionally more up-to-date and more capable However, experience shows that users continue betting on WhatsApp, despite being a tool pago And it was the first and most widespread, the one that family members of all ages have been taught to use and the one that will take a long time to get rid of. The first one has been crowned and it seems that the throne will continue to be occupied by the same application, although every time the situation becomes more interesting.