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
01:01Android and iOS platforms. Feature-wise, Aratai delivers everything users expect. Text messaging,
01:09voice notes, image and document sharing, group chats accommodating up to 1000 participants,
01:15dedicated channels for broadcasting or following creators, and stories that disappear
01:21after 24 hours. Video and audio calls are offered in high-definition quality, even over slow internet
01:29connections, and group meetings are supported. Features aimed at both casual users and those seeking
01:36organizational connectivity. What truly distinguishes Aratai is the app's commitment to privacy and local
01:44data storage. Unlike global competitors, Zoho pledges that user data will never be sold or used for
01:52advertising and is kept securely within Indian servers. Calls made on Aratai are end-to-end encrypted, ensuring
02:01only the sender and receiver have access to call content. However, messages are not yet fully end-to-end
02:08encrypted, a crucial feature that WhatsApp offers and which privacy advocates point to as a limitation
02:15in Aratai's architecture. Interface, usability and features are familiar for WhatsApp users.
02:25Customizable chat backgrounds, multi-device support including desktops and Android TV, and the ability
02:32to set usernames instead of sharing phone numbers. Features like Pockets allow secure storage of
02:38important messages and files in the cloud, and users can turn off read receipts, hide online status,
02:46and restrict who can add them to groups. Where WhatsApp retains an advantage is in payments integration,
02:52polls, disappearing messages, and advanced privacy options, which Aratai currently lacks.
02:59Aratai's rise is part of a growing movement favoring Make in India technology, fostered by increasing
03:06geopolitical awareness and a desire for digital autonomy. It's seen not just as a messaging platform,
03:13but as a challenge to tech giants, tapping into patriotic sentiment and a drive for national
03:19self-reliance. Still, WhatsApp's deep integration into Indian life, over 500 million users,
03:27means that for now, Aratai is more of a robust challenger than a direct replacement.
03:33Its success will depend on bridging the feature gap, especially around encryption and sustaining
03:39rapid improvements.
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