Basic features
This page outlines the basic features available across Nexconn's Direct Channels, Group Channels, Community Channels, and Open Channels.
Direct channels
Direct Channels enable one-to-one chats between two users. Users can message anyone without mutual approval by default. Channels are automatically established and maintained by Nexconn, delivering push notifications for new messages whenever your app is backgrounded or terminated.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Offline Messages | Support offline message storage with configurable retention periods (1-7 days, default 7 days). |
| Message Notifications | Deliver push notifications for new messages while the user is offline. |
| Local Storage | Store all received messages locally on the device, with full searchable message history. |
| Message Retention | Enabled by default. Retains messages in the cloud for 6 months. |
| Delete Messages for Me | Delete specific messages or entire channel history from local and cloud storage. |
| Message Search | Search local messages by keyword or user within specific channels. |
| Read Receipts | Request read receipts for sent messages to track when recipients have viewed them. |
| Delete a Message for Everyone | Delete sent messages for everyone anytime via chat SDKs. |
| Do Not Disturb | Mute specific channels to disable new message notifications. Notifications are enabled by default. |
| Blocklist | Users can block messages from specific users by adding them to a blocklist. Each user maintains their own blocklist via Server API. |
| Transient Messages | Online users receive these messages instantly; offline users never receive them. Status messages don't count toward quotas and aren't stored. |
Group channels
Group Channels support conversations between multiple users. Your app manages member lists and relationships while Nexconn delivers messages to all group members.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Offline Messages | Support offline message storage with configurable retention periods (1-7 days, default 7 days). |
| Message Notifications | Deliver push notifications for new messages while the user is offline. |
| Local Storage | Store all received messages locally on the device, with full searchable message history. |
| Message Retention | Enabled by default. Retains messages in the cloud for 6 months. |
| Delete Messages for Me | Delete specific messages or entire channel history from local and cloud storage. |
| Message Search | Search local messages by keyword or user within specific channels. |
| Read Receipts | Request read receipts for sent messages to track when recipients have viewed them. |
| Delete a Message for Everyone | Delete sent messages for everyone, anytime via chat SDKs. |
| Do Not Disturb | Mute specific channels to disable new message notifications. Notifications are enabled by default. |
| Create Groups | No limit on number of groups per app. Default maximum 3,000 members per group. |
| Join Groups | Each group supports up to 3,000 members. Users can join unlimited groups. By default, new members only see messages sent after they join. To access pre-join history, turn on Enable pre-join history access by new member under Chat > Chat settings > Group Channels on the Chat settings page. |
| Leave Groups | Remove users from groups - they will stop receiving messages from that group. |
| Disband Groups | Dissolve specified groups - all members stop receiving messages from that group. |
| Retrieve Members | Retrieve user IDs of all members in specified groups. |
| Update Group Info | Modify group names and other group properties. |
| Sync Existing Groups | Sync your app server's existing group data to Nexconn before integration. |
| Mute Members | Muted members can view messages but cannot send messages via chat SDKs. |
| Freeze Channel | Prevent all group members from sending messages. Grant exceptions using muting allowlist. |
| Allowed Senders List | When group is muted, allowlist members can still send messages. |
| Send Messages | Broadcast messages to all group members. |
| Dedicated Messages | Send messages to specific members within a group - other members won't receive them. |
| Mention (@) Messages | Mention specific members in group messages to draw their attention. |
| Transient Messages | Online members receive these messages instantly; offline members never receive them. Status messages don't count toward quotas and aren't stored. |
Community channels
Community Channels support unlimited members with massive message concurrency and instant delivery. Your app manages member lists and relationships while Nexconn delivers messages to all members.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Create Communities | No limit on number of Community Channels per app. No member limit per Community Channel. |
| Join Communities | Each Community Channel has no member limit. Users can join up to 100 Community Channels. By default, new members only see messages sent after they join. To access pre-join history, turn on Enable pre-join history access by new member under Chat > Chat settings > Community Channels on the Chat settings page. |
| Leave Communities | Remove members from Community Channels - they stop receiving messages from that channel. |
| Disband Communities | Dissolve specified Community Channels - all members stop receiving messages from that channel. |
| Subchannels | Create up to 50 subchannels per Community Channel. All subchannels share the parent channel's member list. Members can freely send messages in different subchannels, and messages are isolated between subchannels. |
| Update Channel Info | Modify channel names and other channel properties. |
| Mute Members | Muted members can view messages but cannot send messages via chat SDKs. |
| Freeze channel | Prevent all channel members from sending messages. Grant exceptions using muting allowlist. |
| Allowed Senders List | When channel is muted, allowlist members can still send messages. |
| Message Notifications | Push notifications for new messages when offline. Configure notification types flexibly (e.g., push only for @mentions). |
| Local Storage | All received messages are stored locally on the device. |
| Message Retention | Defaults to 7-day cloud storage. Contact us if you need a longer retention period. |
| Delete Messages for Me | Delete messages from local and cloud storage by timestamp. |
| Delete a Message for Everyone | Delete sent messages for everyone, anytime via chat SDKs. |
| Edit Message | Edit content of already-sent messages. |
| Do Not Disturb | Mute specific Community Channels to disable new message notifications. Default is notifications enabled. |
| Send Channel Messages | Broadcast messages to all channel members. |
| Mention (@) Messages | Mention specific members in messages to draw their attention. |
Open channels
Open Channels support unlimited members with massive message concurrency and instant delivery. When users leave the interface, they exit the Open Channel and stop receiving messages - there are no push notifications. Nexconn manages channel connections. Users join and leave Open Channels via SDK methods.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Offline Messages | Not supported. Only online participants receive Open Channel messages. |
| Participants | No number limit. |
| Message Notifications | No push notifications for Open Channel messages. |
| Local Storage | Local messages are deleted when participants leave the Open Channel. No message search. |
| Message Retention | Cloud storage available, default retention period is 2 months. |
| Create Open Channels | No limit on number of Open Channels per app. |
| Destroy Open Channels | Dissolve specified Open Channels - all members stop receiving messages from that channel. |
| Retrieve Channel Info | Retrieve basic channel information including ID, name, and creation time. |
| Retrieve Participants | Retrieve participants information including user IDs and join times. Returns up to 500 members, sortable by join time. |
| Mute Participants | Mute participants in specific Open Channels. Muted participants can view messages but cannot send messages. |
| Global Mute | Mute participants across all Open Channels in your app. Muted participants can view messages but cannot send messages. |
| Ban Participants | Kick banned participants from specific Open Channels and prevent re-entry for a configured duration. |
| Freeze Channels | Mute entire Open Channels - all participants cannot send messages. |
| Low-Priority Messages | Designate specific message types as low priority. When server load is high, low-priority messages are dropped first to preserve resources for high-priority messages. |
| Priority Message Types | Protect allowlisted message types from being dropped even under high message volume. |
| Sync logout across devices | Participants automatically exit Open Channels 30 seconds after going offline (starting from first new message), or after 30 messages are sent while offline. |
| Allowed Senders List | Protect allowlisted participants' messages from being dropped under high message volume. Allowlisted participants are also protected from auto-exit. |
| Channel change webhooks | Sync Open Channel change events to your app server in real-time. Supported events: create, destroy, member join, member leave. |
| Channel metadata | Store up to 100 custom key-value attributes per Open Channel. Attributes are destroyed when the channel is destroyed. |
| Message Recall | Recall sent messages. Chat SDK has no time limit on recall. |