What is Guest Chat?
Guest Chat is Timer's messaging system that lets you communicate directly with your guests, contacts, and team members. You can send text messages, share files, record voice messages, start video calls, create group chats, and auto-translate messages in real time using Pallas AI.
Two different conversations, two different protections. A direct (one-to-one) chat is end-to-end encrypted with AES-256-GCM: the message is encrypted on your device and only you and your recipient can read it, not Timer. A group chat is not end-to-end encrypted — group messages are stored so that Timer can search and remember them for you. The lock indicator above the message box always tells you which one you are in, and it is read from the conversation itself rather than assumed.
Pro Tip: You can invite anyone to chat — even people who are not Timer users — by generating a shareable chat link from the Contact Picker. The link can be set to expire after 1, 7, or 30 days for added security.
Key Features
End-to-End Encryption in Direct Chats
In a one-to-one chat, messages, files and voice notes are encrypted on your device before being sent, with unique keys per conversation. Group chats work differently: they are stored so Timer can search and remember them for you, and are not end-to-end encrypted.
Video Calls
Start a one-click video call directly from any conversation. Features include virtual backgrounds, screen quality selection, QR code sharing, and Pallas AI live transcription.
Auto-Translation
Enable real-time translation powered by Pallas AI to communicate across 12 languages including English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Arabic.
Group Chats
Create group conversations with multiple contacts. Name your group, add or remove members, and collaborate with everyone in a single thread. Note that group threads are stored readably so Timer can search and remember them; only direct one-to-one chats are end-to-end encrypted.
Chat Layout
The Guest Chat page is organized into a split-panel layout designed for efficient communication:
Conversations Sidebar
The left panel lists all your conversations with search functionality. Switch between the Chats tab for messages and the Calls tab for call history. Unread message counts appear as badges on each conversation.
Chat Main Area
The center panel displays the active conversation with the message thread, typing indicators, and the input area. A welcome message states how that particular conversation is protected: end-to-end encrypted for a direct chat, or readable by Timer for a group.
Contact Details Panel
Slides in from the right when you click View Profile. Shows the contact's name, title, company, email, phone, meeting count, shared files count, and quick actions like scheduling a follow-up.
Floating Input Island
The message input area floats at the bottom and includes buttons for emoji, file attachment, voice recording, and send. A character counter (0/2000) and encryption indicator are always visible.
How to Use Guest Chat
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1
Start a New Chat
Click the New Chat button in the empty state or open the Contact Picker. You can select an existing contact from your list or generate a shareable invite link to chat with someone new.
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2
Send Messages
Type your message in the input field and press Send or hit Enter. In a direct one-to-one chat, messages are automatically encrypted before leaving your device; in a group they are stored readably. You can also attach files, add emoji, or record a voice message using the action buttons.
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3
Start a Video Call
Click the video camera icon in the chat header to initiate a video call with your contact. Choose a virtual background before or during the call, adjust video quality (360p, 720p, or 1080p), and optionally enable Pallas AI for live transcription and meeting notes.
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4
Enable Translation
Click the language icon in the chat header to toggle auto-translation. Select your target language from the dropdown — Pallas AI will translate incoming messages in real time. Translation gives Pallas read access to the text, so while it is on the conversation is readable by Timer whatever its usual setting.
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5
Manage Conversations
Use the three-dot menu in the chat header to view the contact's profile, archive the conversation, or delete it. Archived conversations can be restored at any time from the archive view.
The Contact Details Panel provides a comprehensive view of your chat partner and your shared history:
- Profile — View the contact's avatar, full name, job title, company, email address, and phone number
- Stats — See the total number of meetings held together, shared files exchanged, and the contact's rating (if available)
- Quick Actions — Click Schedule Follow-up to book a new meeting or Full Profile to view their complete guest record
- Notes — Host-only section displaying any notes you have added about this contact
- Meetings — A chronological list of all meetings you have had with this contact, with links to each booking
- Shared Files — Browse all files exchanged in the conversation, with download options
Voice Messages
Record and send voice messages directly within any conversation:
- Click the microphone button to start recording — a live waveform visualization and timer appear
- Click the send button to deliver the voice message, or the cancel button to discard it
- Voice messages follow the same rule as text: encrypted before transmission in a direct one-to-one chat, stored readably in a group
- Recipients can play voice messages inline with a waveform player directly in the chat thread
Video Calls
Guest Chat includes a full-featured video calling system built directly into the conversation interface:
Virtual Backgrounds
Choose from blur, purple, blue, dark, or warm gradient backgrounds. Select a background before answering an incoming call or switch during an active call.
Quality Control
Switch between Lo (360p), Med (720p), and Hi (1080p) video quality in real time. Changes apply immediately to adapt to your connection speed.
Pallas AI Assistant
Enable Pallas during calls for live transcription, automatic meeting notes, and smart suggestions. Pallas tracks session cost in Pallas Minutes with a 30-second free trial.
Share & Invite
Share your call link via a copyable URL or QR code.
Group Chats
Create group conversations to communicate with multiple contacts at once:
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1
Create a Group
Open the Contact Picker and select Create Group Chat. Enter a group name, then search and select the members you want to add.
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2
Manage Members
Open Group Info from the chat header menu to view all members. Use the add button to invite new contacts, or remove existing members as needed.
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3
Customize the Group
Edit the group name at any time from the Group Info panel. View member count, total message count, and how the group is protected at a glance.
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4
Leave a Group
If you no longer need to participate, click Leave Group in the Group Info panel. You will stop receiving new messages but the group continues for other members.
Invite Links
Share a chat link with anyone — even people who do not have a Timer account — to start a conversation:
- Open the Contact Picker and click Invite someone new to access the link creation form
- Optionally add a title to help you identify the link later (e.g., "Sales inquiry" or "Support request")
- Set an expiration period: never, 1 day, 7 days (default), or 30 days
- Click Generate Link to create a unique URL, then copy it or share directly with your contact
- When someone opens the link, a new conversation is automatically created in your sidebar
Security & Encryption
Guest Chat is built with security as a core principle. Here is how your data is protected:
- AES-256-GCM encryption in direct chats: in a one-to-one conversation, messages are encrypted on your device before being sent
- Unique keys per direct conversation: each end-to-end encrypted one-to-one chat generates its own keys, so compromising one does not affect the others. Group chats do not use per-conversation keys, because they are not end-to-end encrypted
- No third-party access in direct chats: for a one-to-one conversation not even Timer can read your messages, and the keys never leave your device. This does NOT apply to group chats, which Timer stores readably on purpose
- Encrypted attachments in direct chats: photos, files, documents and voice messages are encrypted before leaving your device, and an attachment shows a padlock only when it actually carries encryption data
- Translation Transparency — When auto-translation is enabled, an indicator shows that Pallas AI has read access; disable it anytime to return to pure E2EE
Best Practices
Trust the Encryption
The lock icon in the chat header and input footer tells you how the OPEN conversation is protected: a closed padlock for an end-to-end encrypted direct chat, and an open padlock saying Timer can read the messages for a group chat or while translation is on. It is derived from the conversation itself, so it changes when the protection does. Click the badge for full details.
Archive Instead of Delete
Use the archive feature to hide old conversations from your main list without losing them permanently. Archived chats can be restored anytime, while deleted chats are gone forever.
Use Expiring Links
When sharing invite links with external contacts, set an expiration date. The default 7-day window balances convenience with security — avoid using "Never" for sensitive conversations.
Review Contact Details
Before important conversations, open the Contact Details Panel to review meeting history, shared files, and any notes. Context makes your communication more effective.
Use Voice for Nuance
When text is not enough, send a voice message. It conveys tone and urgency better than text and is faster than typing long explanations. In a direct one-to-one chat the recording is encrypted on your device before it is sent, the same as a text message; in a group chat it is stored readable, like the rest of that group's messages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can non-Timer users chat with me?
Yes. Generate an invite link from the Contact Picker and share it with anyone. When they open the link, they can start chatting with you immediately without creating a Timer account. The conversation appears in your sidebar like any other chat.
Does translation break encryption?
When you enable auto-translation, Pallas AI is given read access to translate messages, and the chat header updates to show this status. Turning it off returns a direct one-to-one chat to end-to-end encryption, where only you and your contact can read the messages. A group chat is readable by Timer either way, so turning translation off does not make it private.
How many people can be in a group chat?
Group chats support multiple members selected from your contact list. You can add new members at any time from the Group Info panel, and any member can leave the group whenever they choose.
Are video calls also encrypted?
Video calls are encrypted in transit: each participant's connection to Timer's media server uses standard WebRTC encryption (DTLS-SRTP). They are not end-to-end encrypted, because the media server has to handle the audio and video to route the call between participants.
What happens when I archive a conversation?
Archived conversations are moved out of your main chat list but are not deleted. You can access the archive view to browse them, and restore any archived conversation back to your main list with a single click.