Arattai Archives

AppWizard

December 2, 2025

India Orders Messaging Apps to Work Only With Active SIM Cards to Prevent Fraud and Misuse

India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has mandated that app-based communication service providers implement measures requiring an active SIM card linked to the user's mobile number. This applies to messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, which must comply within 90 days. The amendment to the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024, aims to mitigate the misuse of telecommunication identifiers exploited for phishing and scams. The directive requires continuous linkage to the SIM card, and web service instances will log out every six hours, necessitating re-linking via QR code. This is intended to reduce account takeover risks and ensure that accounts are linked to KYC-verified SIMs. The DoT also announced a Mobile Number Validation (MNV) platform to combat identity fraud related to unverified mobile number associations.

AppWizard

November 13, 2025

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu on Arattai app dropping out of top 100 list: ‘I literally told our employees…’ – The Times of India

Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho Corporation, addressed the decline of the company's messaging app, Arattai, from the top 100 apps list, viewing it as a normal part of business evolution rather than a setback. He emphasized the importance of a long-term perspective in business, asserting that successful companies endure fluctuations. Vembu stated that Zoho has invested a decade in developing messaging technology, making the recent ranking drop insignificant. He mentioned the company's commitment to rolling out frequent updates for Arattai and highlighted the necessity of credible competition in the messaging app market to keep monopolistic entities accountable.

AppWizard

October 28, 2025

Arattai Rising: Can India’s Homegrown Messenger Challenge WhatsApp’s Throne?

Arattai, a messaging app in India, gained significant traction in September and October 2025, reaching over 5 million downloads on certain days and surpassing established platforms like Telegram and Snapchat. Its rise was supported by media attention, endorsements from government officials, and alignment with Prime Minister Modi's Swadeshi initiative. Union Home Minister Amit Shah's switch to Zoho email led to a 100-fold increase in Arattai's traffic within three days. The app offers end-to-end encryption for voice and video calls but lacks full encryption for text messages by default. It has a “secret chat” feature and plans to implement comprehensive encryption. User data is stored in Indian data centers, and the app aims to maintain a privacy-focused approach without relying on public cloud providers. Arattai faces challenges in competing with WhatsApp, which has over 500 million users and offers extensive features such as UPI payments and default encryption. For long-term success, Arattai needs to standardize encryption, enhance its infrastructure, and build an ecosystem with integrated payment solutions and business tools. Overcoming user inertia from WhatsApp, establishing a strong brand identity, and navigating regulatory scrutiny are also critical for its growth.

AppWizard

October 14, 2025

Supreme Court rejects lady doctor’s claim that access to WhatsApp is fundamental right; suggests can use Zoho’s Arattai app – The Times of India

The Supreme Court of India ruled that access to private digital platforms like WhatsApp is not a constitutionally guaranteed right. Users must adhere to the terms of service of these private entities, and the court dismissed arguments claiming violation of free speech, suggesting such issues should be addressed through regulatory or civil channels. Dr. Raman Kundra sought restoration of her WhatsApp account for professional and personal use but was advised to consider alternatives like the Arattai app, which has gained significant traction in India. Launched in 2021, Arattai briefly surpassed competitors in app store rankings and is positioned as a "spyware-free, made-in-India messenger," endorsed by government officials. It offers features such as one-to-one and group chats, audio and video calls with end-to-end encryption, multi-device support, and broadcasting capabilities.

AppWizard

October 11, 2025

Arattai Messenger rockets to five million downloads within days

Arattai Messenger has achieved over 5 million downloads shortly after its launch. Developed by Zoho, it serves as an alternative to messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Messenger, aiming to meet the needs of smaller organizations. The app features a lightweight design optimized for low-bandwidth environments, making it suitable for users in rural and semi-urban areas. Arattai also offers an Android TV version that allows cross-platform communication. However, it uses localized data storage instead of full end-to-end encryption, raising concerns about privacy and data security among experts.

AppWizard

October 8, 2025

The Indian messaging app that wants to take on WhatsApp

The Indian messaging app Arattai, developed by Zoho, has gained seven million downloads in a week, a significant increase from fewer than 10,000 downloads in August. This surge is attributed to the Indian government's promotion of self-reliance and homegrown products, with endorsements from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and federal minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Arattai's daily sign-ups rose from 3,000 to 350,000 within three days of the government's support. Despite its initial success, Arattai faces competition from WhatsApp, which has around 500 million monthly active users in India. While Arattai offers similar features to WhatsApp, challenges include retaining users beyond initial downloads, concerns about data privacy, and compliance with Indian regulations. Arattai currently provides end-to-end encryption for voice and video calls, but not for text messages; however, it is working to implement this feature. User trust and clarity regarding data privacy will be critical for Arattai's sustained success in a competitive market.

AppWizard

October 8, 2025

Arattai App Statistics (2025) – Users, Downloads & Insights

Arattai, a messaging application developed by Zoho Corporation, was launched in January 2021 as an internal communication tool and has since grown significantly, with user sign-ups increasing from 3,000 to 350,000 in three days and monthly active users exceeding 1 million. In September 2025, app downloads rose from under 10,000 to 400,000. The app allows file sharing of up to 2 GB and supports group creation with 1,000 members. It remains ad-free and does not use AI integration or data tracking. Arattai is designed specifically for Indian users, supporting multiple regional languages and optimized for low-cost smartphones and slower internet connections, with all data stored in Indian data centers. Despite its growth, it faces competition from WhatsApp, which has 2.95 billion global monthly active users, including 535.8 million in India. Arattai's security features include end-to-end encryption for voice and video calls, but text messages are unencrypted.

AppWizard

October 7, 2025

Zoho’s Arattai messaging app needs to adopt THIS key WhatsApp security feature: Details inside

Arratai, an instant messaging app developed by Zoho, is rapidly gaining popularity as a Made in India alternative to WhatsApp, reaching the top of the social networking category on app stores. However, it lacks end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for text messaging, which could deter users concerned about message security. While E2EE is available for video and voice calls, the absence for text messaging raises privacy concerns. Zoho's co-founder Sridhar Vembu has reassured users about data privacy and has reported a significant increase in daily sign-ups from 3,000 to 350,000 in just three days. The app's branding as a spyware-free, made-in-India messaging platform is resonating with users, especially following endorsements from public figures and tech advocates. Despite its growth, Arratai is facing infrastructure challenges, including delayed one-time passwords (OTPs) and slower contact synchronization, which Zoho is working to address.

AppWizard

October 6, 2025

Not WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram, only Zoho’s Arattai gives users this unique feature in 2025 — Check details here

Zoho Corp's Arattai messaging app has launched an official app for Android TV, making it unique among messaging applications like WhatsApp, Telegram, and others that do not offer this feature. This development is part of a broader trend towards creating software solutions tailored to local needs in India. Arattai provides multi-device support across Linux, macOS, and Windows, enhancing its versatility. Key features of Arattai include enhanced privacy controls, a customizable user interface, seamless integration with other Zoho products, and local language support for various Indian languages.

AppWizard

October 5, 2025

Sridhar Vembu explains the tech behind Zoho’s Arattai, a Swadeshi messaging app: ‘Built on deep engineering’

Sridhar Vembu, co-founder and Chief Scientist of Zoho, discussed the technological framework behind Arattai, the company's messaging and calling app, highlighting its extensive research and development. Arattai, launched in 2021, is built on proprietary frameworks developed in-house, enhancing performance, scalability, and security. The app’s real-time communication is powered by a custom-built messaging and audio-visual framework refined over 15 years, alongside a distributed computing framework perfected over two decades. Arattai aims to be a privacy-focused alternative to mainstream messaging apps, constructed entirely on Zoho's indigenous technology stack. Unique features include the Meetings tool for video conferencing, a built-in personal cloud storage space called Pocket, and a Mentions section for tracking tagged messages. Arattai maintains a no-ads policy and does not exploit user data for marketing, distinguishing it from WhatsApp.