Russian messaging app Max is opening its public channels feature to all Android users in a beta test. Initially available only on Android, the company plans to extend channels to its web and desktop clients soon. Creating a channel requires identity verification through the government-backed Digital ID system, according to TASS.
Until now, Max has focused on core messaging features-private and group chats, audio and video calls, voice messages, money transfers, mini-apps, and chatbots. Public channels represent a strategic shift, putting Max in direct competition with Telegram, where channels have long been a dominant way for creators, media, and businesses to broadcast content.
The concept is familiar: Telegram popularized channels around the mid-2010s, and WhatsApp launched its own Channels globally in 2023. Max is entering an already crowded space where just having the technical capability is not enough. Success depends on user base engagement, creators’ habits, and how easily audiences can discover and consume channel content.
The requirement to verify channel creators via Digital ID signals that Max is aiming for tighter control than many competitors. The clear benefit is fewer anonymous channels and simplified moderation. The downside is it raises the bar for everyday creators, who can no longer launch a channel within minutes. This impacts not only government entities and businesses but also bloggers accustomed to low barriers for content dissemination.
Max claims over 125 million registered users as of early May. But raw registration numbers mean little for public channels; daily active users and willingness to migrate to a new platform are what really matter. The big question-which is whether Max can attract some of Telegram’s audience-will only be answered once channels expand to web, PC, and attract major content creators, media outlets, and commercial users.