Telegram this week announced an update with some new features, and there’s one in particular that’s quite interesting. The platform will now allow businesses to use Telegram for phone number verification, which can be more convenient than using methods such as SMS.

As , businesses often need to spend a lot of money on systems to verify phone numbers to check the identity of their users. With this in mind, Telegram is now offering its own number verification solution.

“We know from our own experience how expensive it can be for businesses to verify phone numbers of their customers. Starting today, any business, app or website can send verification codes via Telegram and pay for them on . Telegram codes are faster, cheaper, more secure and convenient than SMS or other alternatives,” the company says.

Telegram users will receive all verification codes in a special chat within the app. With just a tap, they can copy the code and open the page to complete the verification. The messaging platform will charge $0.01 for each verified user, which is 50 times less than what SMS-based platforms charge businesses.

There’s a .

In addition to this new system, Telegram has also announced some other new features. These include gifts that can be sent to other users, a new interface for video calls on iOS, and improved moderation with more options for reporting abuse.

. Make sure you have the latest version of the app installed on your device to get access to all the new features.