Telegram apps return to iOS after temporary ban; Telegram X officially launched

Telegram is back in the App Store after temporary removal.

Telegram back on Apple App Store after temporary removal (REUTERS)

Telegram and its experimental Telegram X were kicked out of Apple's App Store for allegedly making inappropriate content available to its users. The popular encrypted messaging platform, however, is now back on App Store while the Telegram X has been officially launched.

"Telegram is back in the AppStore after being absent there since midnight CET. Every day 500,000+ users download Telegram for Android and another 100,000 download Telegram for iOS," Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram tweeted on Friday.

Fall from grace

Telegram and an an unfinished version of its new experimental app called "Telegram X" that the company announced for Android devices were both removed from Apple's App Store.

"We were alerted by Apple that inappropriate content was made available to our users and both apps were taken off the App Store. Once we have protections in place we expect the apps to be back on the App Store," Durov added.

According to TechCrunch, "Telegram X" could have fallen foul of Apple's guidelines requiring all apps to have filtering and blocking systems as well as ways for offensive content to be removed quickly.

The messaging platform has risen in popularity thanks to its focus on advanced security features and the ability to hold secret conversations with end-to-end encryption.

Most of its rival messaging services now support end-to-end encryption which was not the case when Telegram debuted in 2013.

Telegram X

Telegram X is quite similar to various other instant messaging applications but comes with some unique feature. The application, which aims to replace your regular messenger, comes with a neat UI and offers stickers and shorter access to key functions such as pin and delete among others. It also has a dark mode.

There's also a bubble-free mode for messages which the company says allows messages and photos get more breathing space. The mode allows photos to consume full width of the screen.

"The app includes a reimagined music player and attachment menu, as well as optimized profile pages with quick access to shared media. You can easily switch between different types of shared media by swiping," explains Telegram on its website.

Telegram X is available for both Android and iOS platforms.

(With inputs from HT correspondent)