The Telegram team has released a major update to Bot API version 10.4, which fundamentally changes how users interact with the messenger. As Pavel Durov reported in his Telegram channel, regular messages can now transform into full-fledged interactive apps that open almost instantly. A key technical advantage of this innovation is its minimal size: each such app weighs around 4 kilobytes, allowing it to run without delays even on devices with limited network bandwidth. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement from the platform's founder.
HTML Widgets Directly in the Chat Window
The central element of the update is the support for native HTML widgets directly within message windows. This means that bots and AI assistants can now create interactive tools, mini-games, and full working environments inside chats without needing to navigate to external browsers or separate applications. The user interacts with the functionality directly in the chat stream, significantly shortening the path from request to result. Essentially, the messenger is becoming a platform for lightweight web apps embedded in the dialogue.
TON Wallet Integration: Payments and NFTs inside the Chat
The new widgets include support for the built-in Telegram Wallet. Bots can now interact with TON Wallet at the API level: signing transactions on behalf of the user, retrieving balance data, accessing NFT sticker collections, and tracking transaction notifications. This unlocks the potential for building financial tools within the chat—from simple payment forms to complex digital asset management services—without ever leaving the messenger interface.
Private Replies to User Actions
Another significant innovation is the mechanism for private replies to user actions. Previously, any bot response to a button click or option selection in a group chat was visible to all participants. Now, a bot can send a message addressed exclusively to the user who performed the action. This allows for personalized scenarios: individual confirmations, private settings, and survey results available only to the initiator, without cluttering the group chat with unnecessary information.
Open Access for Developers and Features for Premium Users
Any developer can create their own application within the framework of Bot API 10.4. Detailed documentation and examples are published in the official BotNews channel, lowering the entry barrier for independent authors and small teams. Additionally, the update includes a series of extra features aimed at Telegram Premium account owners and developers working with advanced automation scenarios.
Broader Context: Telegram Continues Expanding its Ecosystem
The Bot API 10.4 update fits into a larger platform strategy of transforming Telegram from a classic messenger into a multifunctional ecosystem. In parallel, according to Hi-Tech Mail.ru, the Telegram team has released an update including support for apps on smartwatches for Apple Watch and devices with Android Wear OS. These steps collectively point to systematic work aimed at ensuring the messenger remains a central hub for communication, payments, mini-apps, and wearables in a single interface.
