WhatsApp vs Telegram: Which is Safer for Your Business Communication?
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WhatsApp vs. Telegram is a new debate within business communications, with many professionals starting to ask what is the difference between the two? Understanding how WhatsApp Business and Telegram each work, especially from a business perspective, can help you decide what is the best communications channel for your business and your clients.
Understanding WhatsApp and Telegram
When looking at WhatsApp vs. Telegram it’s important to understand a few key differences even though on the surface they seem quite similar. Both WhatsApp and Telegram are fairly intuitive to use. Their chatting options are conveniently accessible from the homepage. They do have some small differences in terms of user interface and functionality. For example:
- WhatsApp: The calling tab is right in front, making it handy for users who spend a lot of time on calls. Starting a chat or creating a group is straightforward.
- Telegram: Offers a more seamless chatting experience with a wide variety of media types, including stickers and animated emojis. Plus, it allows sharing larger files.
However, when it comes to comparing the differences between WhatsApp and Telegram, two key features stand out.
- Sync Across Devices:
- Telegram: Syncs chats and files across different devices, allowing you to use the same account on separate smartphones. This can be a very helpful feature for businesses, where having access to communications with clients and partners across multiple devices can make them much easier to manage.
- WhatsApp: Does not offer this option; signing in on a different device automatically logs you out from the previous one.
- Secret Chats:
- Telegram: Has a unique feature allowing secret chats. These are private, end-to-end encrypted conversations that can be deleted for both users.
- WhatsApp: Lacks a similar feature. It does use end-to-end encryption to keep conversations private but you have no control over it on the recipient’s device.
Security and secret chats are evidently a big issue when it comes to professional services organisations who need to be wary of both privacy, data protection and industry specific regulations relating to the oversight of communications. Therefore, it can be helpful to understand this aspect more fully:
WhatsApp vs. Telegram: What is a secret chat?
As mentioned above, this is not a feature that WhatsApp can offer and it is unique to Telegram. Both apps allow end-to-end encryption for private conversations but this Telegram feature takes it a step further. So what is secret chat and how does it work?
- Secret Chat mode is available only for one-on-one conversations (not for groups).
- When you enter Secret Chat mode, Telegram enables end-to-end encryption.
- Messages exchanged in Secret Chat are stored only on your devices, not on Telegram’s servers.
- No one else, including Telegram, can access or decipher these messages.
- Secret Chat messages are encrypted from sender to recipient. They remain secure during transmission.
- Messages in Secret Chat cannot be forwarded to others.
- Screenshot Notification: If you take a screenshot, the recipient is notified about it.
- Message Deletion: When you delete a message, it’s removed from both users’ devices.
- Device-Specific: Secret Chat messages are tied to the device where you start the chat. If you log out or switch devices, you lose access to that Secret Chat.
- Self-Destruct Timer: Optionally, you can set a self-destruct timer. Once a message is displayed on the recipient’s screen, it disappears after a specified time (similar to Instagram or WhatsApp disappearing messages).
Secure Client Communication: WhatsApp vs. Telegram
The different features when coinciding WhatsAppvs. Telegram in terms of communication with your clients, the different approaches to security and the availability of Secret Chat have a big impact.
Firstly when it comes to satisfying GDPR, it seems like a good thing for both parties as ultimately, both apps, and especially Telegram, give the users significant privacy and control over their data. Telegram especially offers the great privacy option features.
However, most professional services organisations, especially those in accounting, financial services, and the legal sector, have strict regulations they need to comply with when it comes to any communication with clients. Whether it be the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK or the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US, both regulators have explicit compliance requirements regarding the oversight of communications which need to be transparent, recorded and stored accordingly. This is to protect clients and consumers by ensuring high levels of oversight - as well as to keep a record for the companies themselves should proof of communications ever be required in the future.
By their very nature, both WhatsApp and Telegram are unable to fulfil these requirements and are considered ‘off-channel’ and non-compliant forms of communication.
Enhancing Client Experience with ClientWindow and WhatsApp Integration
The non-compliance of both WhatsApp and Telegram, therefore leaves many professionals in a quandary - WhatsApp Business is especially helpful when communicating with clients. In fact, it is the communications tool of choice for many clients who would rather send a quick WhatsApp rather than typing out a long email or calling their relationship manager, lawyer or accountant.
However, by using a third party service like ClientWindow, you can enjoy the best of both worlds. ClientWindow works by centralising and integrating email and messaging apps, like WhatsApp, into one single platform where everything is appropriately stored and transparents, ensuring compliance obligations are met.
For example, you could email your client and, working seamlessly in the background, ClientWindow allows this message to be delivered to WhatsApp on your client’s phone. They then type a message and hit reply - and it appears as an email in your normal inbox. Plus the messages are also stored on the ClientWindow central platform, giving full visibility and management of conversations. This means professionals can have easy communications on the devices and platforms they prefer, whilst remaining compliant.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the FCA, using messaging services like WhatsApp on their own presents significant compliance risks. It has warned advisers against using WhatsApp and other social media messaging services for arranging deals and providing investment advice.The
regulator has also acted against firms and individuals for misconduct involving the use of unmonitored or encrypted communication apps to share sensitive work information.The
FCA has reminded the industry that the use of such apps presents heightened
risks from misconduct, as a result of remote working.
Off-channel communications refer to any corporate conversations or data exchanges that occur outside officially sanctioned and monitored communication channels.
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WhatsApp vs. Telegram is a new debate within business communications, with many professionals starting to ask what is the difference between the two? Understanding how WhatsApp Business and Telegram each work, especially from a business perspective, can help you decide what is the best communications channel for your business and your clients.
Understanding WhatsApp and Telegram
When looking at WhatsApp vs. Telegram it’s important to understand a few key differences even though on the surface they seem quite similar. Both WhatsApp and Telegram are fairly intuitive to use. Their chatting options are conveniently accessible from the homepage. They do have some small differences in terms of user interface and functionality. For example:
- WhatsApp: The calling tab is right in front, making it handy for users who spend a lot of time on calls. Starting a chat or creating a group is straightforward.
- Telegram: Offers a more seamless chatting experience with a wide variety of media types, including stickers and animated emojis. Plus, it allows sharing larger files.
However, when it comes to comparing the differences between WhatsApp and Telegram, two key features stand out.
- Sync Across Devices:
- Telegram: Syncs chats and files across different devices, allowing you to use the same account on separate smartphones. This can be a very helpful feature for businesses, where having access to communications with clients and partners across multiple devices can make them much easier to manage.
- WhatsApp: Does not offer this option; signing in on a different device automatically logs you out from the previous one.
- Secret Chats:
- Telegram: Has a unique feature allowing secret chats. These are private, end-to-end encrypted conversations that can be deleted for both users.
- WhatsApp: Lacks a similar feature. It does use end-to-end encryption to keep conversations private but you have no control over it on the recipient’s device.
Security and secret chats are evidently a big issue when it comes to professional services organisations who need to be wary of both privacy, data protection and industry specific regulations relating to the oversight of communications. Therefore, it can be helpful to understand this aspect more fully:
WhatsApp vs. Telegram: What is a secret chat?
As mentioned above, this is not a feature that WhatsApp can offer and it is unique to Telegram. Both apps allow end-to-end encryption for private conversations but this Telegram feature takes it a step further. So what is secret chat and how does it work?
- Secret Chat mode is available only for one-on-one conversations (not for groups).
- When you enter Secret Chat mode, Telegram enables end-to-end encryption.
- Messages exchanged in Secret Chat are stored only on your devices, not on Telegram’s servers.
- No one else, including Telegram, can access or decipher these messages.
- Secret Chat messages are encrypted from sender to recipient. They remain secure during transmission.
- Messages in Secret Chat cannot be forwarded to others.
- Screenshot Notification: If you take a screenshot, the recipient is notified about it.
- Message Deletion: When you delete a message, it’s removed from both users’ devices.
- Device-Specific: Secret Chat messages are tied to the device where you start the chat. If you log out or switch devices, you lose access to that Secret Chat.
- Self-Destruct Timer: Optionally, you can set a self-destruct timer. Once a message is displayed on the recipient’s screen, it disappears after a specified time (similar to Instagram or WhatsApp disappearing messages).
Secure Client Communication: WhatsApp vs. Telegram
The different features when coinciding WhatsAppvs. Telegram in terms of communication with your clients, the different approaches to security and the availability of Secret Chat have a big impact.
Firstly when it comes to satisfying GDPR, it seems like a good thing for both parties as ultimately, both apps, and especially Telegram, give the users significant privacy and control over their data. Telegram especially offers the great privacy option features.
However, most professional services organisations, especially those in accounting, financial services, and the legal sector, have strict regulations they need to comply with when it comes to any communication with clients. Whether it be the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK or the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US, both regulators have explicit compliance requirements regarding the oversight of communications which need to be transparent, recorded and stored accordingly. This is to protect clients and consumers by ensuring high levels of oversight - as well as to keep a record for the companies themselves should proof of communications ever be required in the future.
By their very nature, both WhatsApp and Telegram are unable to fulfil these requirements and are considered ‘off-channel’ and non-compliant forms of communication.
Enhancing Client Experience with ClientWindow and WhatsApp Integration
The non-compliance of both WhatsApp and Telegram, therefore leaves many professionals in a quandary - WhatsApp Business is especially helpful when communicating with clients. In fact, it is the communications tool of choice for many clients who would rather send a quick WhatsApp rather than typing out a long email or calling their relationship manager, lawyer or accountant.
However, by using a third party service like ClientWindow, you can enjoy the best of both worlds. ClientWindow works by centralising and integrating email and messaging apps, like WhatsApp, into one single platform where everything is appropriately stored and transparents, ensuring compliance obligations are met.
For example, you could email your client and, working seamlessly in the background, ClientWindow allows this message to be delivered to WhatsApp on your client’s phone. They then type a message and hit reply - and it appears as an email in your normal inbox. Plus the messages are also stored on the ClientWindow central platform, giving full visibility and management of conversations. This means professionals can have easy communications on the devices and platforms they prefer, whilst remaining compliant.
