Meet Arattai Messenger. India's Own WhatsApp Alternative

Asianet News English

Is India ready for its own WhatsApp alternative? Meet Arattai Messenger, a homegrown app developed by Zoho that’s redefining how Indians chat, call, and share online. In this video, find out everything you need to know: what sets Arattai apart, its standout features like group chats for 1,000, HD audio/video calls, Android TV support, and why it’s topping charts across India. We’ll break down its privacy policy, government endorsements, how it protects your data, and how it stacks up against global giants. Will Arattai revolutionize the way India communicates?&nbsp;

Transcript

00:00Aratai Messenger is India's ambitious answer to WhatsApp, a homegrown app developed by Zoho

00:08Corporation in Chennai and now gaining rapid traction across the nation. In response to

00:14long-standing concerns about privacy, data security and digital sovereignty, Aratai offers

00:21features similar to global messaging platforms but promises a distinctly Indian edge. Aratai's

00:28name itself means casual chat in Tamil, an apt branding for an app designed to be both everyday

00:34and relatable. Recently endorsed by the Union Education Minister and supported by government

00:41initiatives encouraging Swadeshi technology, Aratai is positioned at the forefront of India's push for

00:48indigenous digital solutions. Its user base has exploded, with daily sign-ups surging to several

00:55lack in just a matter of days, sending it to the very top of App Store rankings on both Android and

01:02iOS platforms. Feature-wise, Aratai delivers everything users expect – text messaging, voice notes, image

01:10and document sharing, group chats accommodating up to 1,000 participants, dedicated channels for

01:17broadcasting or following creators, and stories that disappear after 24 hours. Video and audio calls are

01:25offered in high-definition quality, even over slow internet connections, and group meetings are supported.

01:33Features aimed at both casual users and those seeking organizational connectivity.

01:38What truly distinguishes Aratai is the app's commitment to privacy and local data storage.

01:46Unlike global competitors, Zoho pledges that user data will never be sold or used for advertising and is

01:53kept securely within Indian servers. Calls made on Aratai are end-to-end encrypted, ensuring only the sender and

02:02receiver have access to call content. However, messages are not yet fully end-to-end encrypted, a crucial feature that

02:10WhatsApp offers and which privacy advocates point to as a limitation in Aratai's architecture.

02:19Interface, usability and features are familiar for WhatsApp users. Customizable chat backgrounds, multi-device support

02:28including desktops and Android TV, and the ability to set usernames instead of sharing phone numbers.

02:35Features like Pockets allow secure storage of important messages and files in the cloud, and users can turn off

02:43read receipts, hide online status, and restrict who can add them to groups.

02:48Where WhatsApp retains an advantage is in payments integration, polls, disappearing messages,

02:54and advanced privacy options, which Aratai currently lacks. Aratai's rise is part of a growing movement

03:02favoring Make in India technology, fostered by increasing geopolitical awareness and a desire for

03:08digital autonomy. It's seen not just as a messaging platform, but as a challenge to tech giants, tapping

03:16into patriotic sentiment and a drive for national self-reliance. Still, WhatsApp's deep integration

03:24into Indian life, over 500 million users, means that for now, Aratai is more of a robust challenger

03:31than a direct replacement. Its success will depend on bridging the feature gap, especially around

03:38encryption and sustaining rapid improvements.

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