Labeling 2016 as the "year of bots," Telegram unveils Bots 2.0 that comes with a new user interface (UI), which the company claims to be its "biggest change" to date.
The makers have fleshed out their Bot API by introducing the latest update that offers a host of features like inline keyboards, group administration tools, support systems for 19 more file types and much more. This addition is basically an update to the bot platform that Telegram had launched in 2015.
So, what is a bot? In layman's language, a bot is basically a software application that runs simple automated tasks over the Internet, at a pace much faster than human performance. In this case, however, the bots let the users interact with a third-party software program to perform some action without actually having to leave the messaging platform.
The new Telegram bots come in four forms:
@music bot
This update lets you pull free-to-share classical MP3 from the Internet and paste it on any chat thread through the input field itself. You can keep the track playing outside of the chat box, even after minimizing the app. The inline keyboard lets you interact without sending any messages and updates own messages as well.
@youtube bot
The @youtube bot connects the Telegram account with YouTube through a new development called chat switching. Also supported by the inline mode, a new menu option offering additional settings becomes available once the connection with your YouTube account is secured.
@sticker bot
This particular bot is going to fast gain popularity. The stickers are categorized as per emoticons (or emojis), including some that are not installed in your system. Powered by own inline keyboard and actions, the @sticker bot requires fewer keywords for interaction.
@foursquare bot
This inline bot lets you share your location and addresses of nearby venues through the "Location" feature. It will generally ask for permission when a beginner sends out any address for the first time.
Apart from the bots, Telegram has also introduced major UI updates for Android and iOS. The iOS users will now have greater fluidity in sharing photos and videos to other Telegram chats, or even an external app, along with an updated video player that requires fewer taps to get started.
The preview sticker packs let you preview a sticker and send it directly from the pack, while the GIFs can function through the "Tap and hold to preview."
Android, on the other hand, has undergone a host of changes, starting from redesigned chat screen, optimized colors, new message bubbles and progress bars, to a full makeover for documents and attachments.
Keen to stay ahead in a market that is becoming exceedingly crowded, Telegram made this announcement just ahead of Facebook, which is planning to unveil its Messenger chatbots at F8 next week.
If you are a Telegram user, drop by our Comments section and let us know how well the cloud-based messaging app has nailed this new system, after trying your hands on some of the sample bots that the makers have rolled out.
