TamTam (app)

TamTam
Original author	VK
Developer	Russia: VK
Initial release	May 25, 2017 (2017-05-25)
Operating system	macOS Android iOS Linux Windows
Available in	Russian
Type	mobile app and web application
License	Proprietary
Website	tamtam.chat

TamTam is a cross-platform messenger developed by Mail.ru Group (now: VK) in 2017. It allows you to engage in text conversations (including group chats), send voice messages, create channels, and share photos, GIFs, music, videos, and stickers.

The messenger was launched in July 2016 under the name "OK Messages". On May 25, 2017, the messenger was rebranded to TAMTAM, and channels were launched at the same time. In August 2018, TAMTAM became available independently from Odnoklassniki. As of October 2021, the TAMTAM Android app has over 10 million downloads^[1].

In April 2020, TamTam was included in the list of "socially significant" resources compiled by the Ministry of Communications^[2].

Up to 20,000 people can participate in private and public chats. Chat moderation by administrators (up to 50 administrators). Tamb allows you to set a short link for a public channel or a long private link for private chats. There are features for mentioning, quoting, replying, forwarding messages, and marking them as read. In the web version of Tamb, you can view the last 50 messages in public chats without registering in the messenger. You can also create a private chat without a link.

Private and public channels with unlimited participants. TamTam allows you to set a short link for a public channel or a long private link for private channels. The channel can be moderated by administrators (up to 50 administrators). You can view the last 50 messages in public channels in the browser without registering in the messenger. You can create a private channel without a link.

Group video calls up to 100 participants. The ability to call into a chat, as well as create a call by link, which can be joined in the browser without registration in the messenger. Screen sharing during a video call from a computer. It is also possible to join audio and video calls by link without registration.

Bot API is an open platform for chatbot developers. Developers can expand the functionality of the messenger using bot builders. Official bots: @reactions for likes and reactions, @comments for discussions, @antispam for protecting chats from spam, and @stickers for adding stickers.

TAMTAM uses the TLS protocol for encrypting correspondence, as well as the developer's own protocols. Data is stored in a distributed network of servers.

Tambam supports animated ("live") stickers. There is support for custom sticker packs.

Embedded animated GIFs from Tenor.

Support for sending the user's location (a point on the map). The ability to enable continuous location broadcasting in a conversation with another user. Live location broadcasting in chats and dialogues.

All TamTam users' correspondence is stored in the cloud. There is no limit to the amount of files that can be stored. The maximum size of a single file is 2 GB.

Built-in video player with support for picture-in-picture mode. Support for audio tracks when sending a video file. Listening to videos in the background on mobile devices. Chromecast support allows you to stream videos from TAMT to your TV.

Attaching messages in chats and channels. Sending and editing collages, including photos and videos.

In chats and dialogs, messages can be edited for 24 hours, and in channels, they can be edited indefinitely. You can also save draft messages.

Day and night themes that can be switched on a schedule or based on lighting conditions. TamTam allows you to create your own themes in the .ttstyle format. TamTam supports native dark themes on Android, iOS, and macOS.

TamTam was criticized for its promotion campaign on the day of Telegram's blocking in Russia on April 13, 2018. Clones of numerous Telegram channels, including anonymous ones, were discovered in the TamTam messenger. In the vast majority of cases, the authors whose Telegram channels were cloned claimed that they were not involved in the creation of unauthorized copies.^[3]

As a result, the aggressive promotion of TamTam was curtailed, according to several sources, due to the reluctance of the Mail.Ru Group management to associate itself with the persecution of the Telegram messenger by the Russian authorities.^[4]

• Official website (in Russian)