Telegram charges $1.19 for registering a phone number with a Chinese mobile number, and the reason is surprisingly simple!

TelegramIs there a fee for registering for the Chinese mobile version? The truth is...!

You think registering a chat...softwareIs it just a matter of entering a phone number? Now, the Chinese version of Telegram is...ChinaA bill was thrown in front of the user, causing an uproar.

Many people's first reaction is: Isn't this a free app? Why is it suddenly charging?

In fact, there is a whole set of logic and practical considerations behind this.

Why does Telegram charge for +86 mobile numbers?

Telegram requires a fee for each new account registered using a mainland China mobile number (+86). 1.19 dollar.

The reason is straightforward: it's sent from mainland China.Verification codeTexting is too expensive.

The price of SMS gateways is much higher than in other regions, and in order to maintain normal operations, the platform has no choice but to pass on this cost to users.

In other words, this money is not a "rip-off," but rather the actual cost of communication.

Telegram is imitating this.Musk’s X platform tests paid registration model: $1 per year membership.

This practice is seen as raising the registration threshold and reducing the practice of mass-manipulating accounts.

This will also increase platform revenue and drive the development of membership business.

For ordinary users, the cost is not high, but it can bring a safer environment.

This may be the future trend of social platforms.

Can I waive this fee by becoming a member?

Interestingly, Telegram has offered a "free" solution.

If you have a Telegram Premium membership, you won't need to pay this extra fee when registering.

This is actually a "bundling strategy" that solves the SMS cost problem and also promotes the development of membership business.

For ordinary users, this might feel like a form of forced consumption.

From the platform's perspective, however, this is a win-win solution.

Do I have to pay a fee to register a foreign mobile number in China?

Many people ask: If I use a foreign mobile number to receive verification codes in China, can I bypass this fee?

The answer is: No.

This fee will be triggered whenever you receive a verification code in mainland China, regardless of whether it is a local number or an overseas number.

This shows that the core issue is not the ownership of the phone number, but the cost of delivering the SMS message.

In other words, the fundamental reason for the cost lies in the price of the SMS channel, not the user's nationality.

The underlying logic behind the fees: curbing black market activities

Besides cost factors, there is another, more hidden reason.

Telegram has long been a breeding ground for illicit activities worldwide, particularly mass registration and fraud rings.

By charging fees, the platform can effectively raise the registration threshold and reduce the possibility of mass account farming.

This is like adding a "threshold fee" at the entrance, allowing genuine ordinary users to still enter, but instantly causing the cost of large-scale black market operations to skyrocket.

Will ordinary users be mistakenly affected?

Of course, the implementation of any rule will bring side effects.

Ordinary users might think: I just want to register an account, why should I pay extra?

This is what is known as "collateral damage".

However, Telegram's strategy is to minimize collateral damage, for example, by offering free memberships.

At the same time, the cost itself is not high; $1.19 is roughly equivalent to 8 yuan.

For most users, this amount of money is not an unacceptable threshold.

Is this fee worth it?

If you only use Telegram occasionally, you might find this fee a bit excessive.

However, if you rely on Telegram for communication in the long term, especially for cross-border communication, then this fee can actually be seen as a kind of "security guarantee".

Because a paid subscription model can keep your account environment cleaner and reduce interference from spam and fraudulent accounts.

From this perspective, spending a little money to create a safer social environment is a reasonable investment.

The user's choice: pay or take a detour?

Faced with this fee, the user's choice is actually quite simple.

You can either pay to register directly or become a member and get free access.

Of course, some people will try to bypass the fees by using third-party services.

However, these methods are often riskier and may even result in account suspension.

Therefore, in the long run, official channels are the safest choice.

What does this mean for Telegram's future?

This move to charge fees may be part of Telegram's global strategy.

If the results are significant, similar mechanisms may be gradually introduced in other regions.

This will not only increase platform revenue, but also further combat black market activities.

From a business perspective, this was a trial run.

If user acceptance is high, Telegram may extend this model to more countries.

My view: This is a necessary "institutional improvement".

In my view, Telegram's move to charge fees is not simply a commercial act, but rather a systemic improvement.

It uses economic levers to adjust the user structure, which not only ensures the sustainable development of the platform, but also purifies the social environment to a certain extent.

Although it may cause controversy in the short term, in the long run, it is a logical evolution.

In more academic terms, this is a "structural optimization" of platform governance.

So if you really need to use Telegram, you might as well think of this fee as an "admission ticket".

After all, a clean and safe social environment is what we actually want.

Now the question is: would you choose to pay directly or become a member to get it for free?

This is a choice every user has to face, and your decision will affect the future direction of Telegram's ecosystem.

I suggest viewing this expense rationally and considering it as a necessary investment.

In the information age, security and order are always more important than free services.

⚠️Notes

使用cellphone numberWhen registering a mobile APP, computer software or website account, do not use the publicly shared online account.codeThe platform receives SMS verification codes to avoid account theft.

If you register an account, you may need to verifyChinese mobile number, but if you usevirtual phone numbercode, which can effectively protect privacy and avoid being harassed ▼

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