Telegram apps are becoming more and more suitable for customization within the messenger. Their environment offers enough space and development tools to make apps enjoyable to use.
For instance, you can't develop a game in a typical browser about car racing that is controlled with Device Motion Tracking (tilting the phone tilts the car).
Let's finally clarify what the Telegram team has done: they developed their own browser to launch apps and pages from the messenger! To make it unique, they provided functions that were previously available exclusively on App Store and Google Play platforms. This allows for the development of 'mobile apps' on the web with seamless messenger integration. Sounds unique and worth trying.
What’s new here?
Full Screen mode
Before, Mini Apps were stuck in a small window, taking up just 1/3 of the screen. Now, they expand to full screen, giving users a fully immersive experience that feels like a native app. That is definitely useful for the gaming experience, which has occupied the largest share of the Telegram App Center.
Device motion tracking
Wanna craft games, that require device motion? Now it's available within tApps. If you develop such games, you may lock screen to avoid unnecessary rotation. That so users will thank you. It's a small touch that makes a big difference.
Home screen shortcuts
This function is not unique but now available in Telegram browser. First of all, those mini apps are designed for mobile. You may add a mini app on your home page on your phone from now.
Geolocation access
Plus a step towards competitiveness! Mini apps can now access and share users' location. That's in case you want to develop Pokemon Go with Telegram.
I'm kidding, but you have food for thought. That format is popular and addictive.
There is never too much customization
We know that Telegram is open source, and they have eased life for developers by providing ready-to-go customization solutions that are designed following Telegram guidelines. This only applies to the loading screen, but it's crucial to engage the user at this stage, too.
Telegram Stars as a payment method
Not long ago, the Telegram team added Stars — a local currency used to reward authors for content or premium subscription purchases. Now, your app launched in the Telegram browser also has this feature. You can add subscriptions or other in-app payments with Stars to make the experience even more engaging. Do not forget who you are plating with: Stars can be bought with fiat and crypto.
Comparison with Other Platforms
Telegram is not the only platform that likes to surprise users with new features. The most valuable feature of Telegram is its audience — 900 million — which looks like a huge number. Inside the app, you can buy ads and promote your product to form a community. That is more useful than it seems to be, as the audience is more crypto-oriented than on other social media platforms, which we commonly use to share our projects.
Removing the bias, what else can we use from this segment?

It's a player with a huge audience, but what good is it? Recently WeChat started to support checking cryptocurrency market conditions, we may congratulate them, of course. However, that doesn’t conquer the fact China is very strict to crypto development and controls this area.
WeChat allows to build inside apps with its API. You can now use WeChat Pay to pay for your Bitcoin on Paxful. Better than nothing.
Another obstacle is target audience. It differs from Telegram because here most of users are Chinese. In case you want develop in this market, WeChat is your solution.
Telegram’s browser, unlike WeChat, is not so limited. You can launch any app you want without worrying about moderation if it’s not going in the Telegram App Center. In this aspect, Telegram is much more free, which is what I consider important, not depending on your values.
Viber

Unfortunately, this player does not catch trends very fast. There is no point in considering Web3 integration and apps in apps on that stage today. Only recently developers added interactive bots for businesses. That is a great step, no doubts, but we are looking for more powerful tools.

Huge player in Western countries. Now it serves 2 billion users. More than twice bigger number than Telegram does. But unfortunately, its functionality and synchronization are inferior to a Telegram.
Meta, who holds WhatsApp, has opposite values to Web3 and today there are low chances of decentralized integration. They actively work to implement AI tools to smoothen user experience. Also, you can’t build app inside WhatsApp, only business tools like customer support, notifications, and reminders.
Facebook Messenger

Another big Meta player which has occupied a niche in the market and is not going to vacate it. The team continues to enhance Messenger to keep it competitive. From all things already listed, you can build chatbots to automate your business processes.
Considering messenger principles and functions, Facebook Messenger performs better in terms of end-to-end encryption, so no one except key holders (you and your companions) may read messages in your chats. This also applies to WhatsApp. In Telegram, this function is available only in secret chats, which can be created on the phone without further device synchronization.
Discord

Another powerful platform that made voice chats a trend. It is open to bot development and widely used in web3 for community hubs. Probably, it’s great to mention in this messenger battle but there is no point compare it to telegram with serious purpose. It does not have crypto integration yet and you can not launch apps there.
Signal

True security defender on the messenger market, but not suitable for such level of engagement because of its purpose. It has minimized data collectioning and no cloud backups. Some may consider it great and relevant in light of changes in the world in favor of privacy.
Unfortunately it’s not perfect for community building and gamification with our level of requests.
There are more messengers like Line, Slack, Threema, or Wire, but there is no point in comparing them because of their different objectives. It’s better to return to them after they change their paths of development in a way that is interesting for us.
Conclusion
After going through the features of telegram and its competitors, we can declare that depending on our goals we may choose different messengers. It’s always better to choose a few tools and use to the fullest extent possible.
My aim was to consider the application an assistant in the field of Web3. With Telegram’s current values, it’s a totally suitable environment for DeFi or GameFi development.
If you wonder about launching one to implement your ideas or foster existing project, you may address Amen Agency. We cover such requests and would be glad to provide a consultation for you. You can book a call by clicking the button in the top right corner, or just scroll down and fill out the contact form with your request details.