Zoho Corp’s homegrown messaging app, Arattai, has seen a remarkable surge in popularity over the past week, with many speculating its potential to rival Meta-owned WhatsApp in the Indian market. However, amidst the excitement, privacy-conscious users have raised concerns about a significant feature that Arattai currently lacks—default end-to-end encryption (E2EE).
Arattai vs WhatsApp: What is the privacy concern?
Zoho positions Arattai as a privacy-first service, emphasizing that all user data is stored within India. While voice and video calls benefit from end-to-end encryption, standard messages do not enjoy this level of protection. Users can opt for a ‘secret chat’ feature that provides secure messaging, but this workaround has been deemed inconvenient by many, as it excludes regular one-on-one and group chats from the same privacy safeguards.
In contrast, competitors like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal offer default E2EE across all communication functions, including calls, chats, and videos. This comprehensive approach to privacy has set a high bar in the messaging app landscape.
In response to the growing concerns voiced on social media, the official Arattai account on X acknowledged the issue, assuring users that “Privacy is super important to us, and end-to-end encryption for chats is something we’re actively working on.”
All you need to know about Zoho’s Arattai
- Arattai is a cross-platform instant messaging application developed by Chennai-based Zoho Corporation.
- It is completely free to download and use, offering a straightforward, privacy-focused communication solution without subscription fees, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
- The app enables users to send text and voice messages, make audio and video calls, share photos, videos, and documents, post stories, and create group chats.
- Arattai supports use across multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers, allowing up to five devices to be linked to a single account. Messages, contacts, and settings sync automatically across devices, ensuring a seamless experience.
Since its launch in 2021, Arattai has ascended to the top of the app charts on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, drawing comparisons with WhatsApp. However, maintaining this momentum will prove to be a formidable challenge. WhatsApp is deeply integrated into the daily lives of over 500 million users in India, serving as a vital tool for personal communication, commerce, and even government services. Its extensive network effects and expanding business platform provide it with a significant competitive advantage.
