local platforms Archives

AppWizard

November 7, 2025

“Of course, you must be on Steam. But Steam isn’t the entire world”: CEO of game distribution company says yes, some PC gamers prefer “local” stores to Valve’s mega-shop, and China is a huge factor

Steam is a dominant platform in digital PC gaming, but there are emerging local platforms in regions like China, Eastern Europe, and Latin America that are gaining trust and loyalty among gamers. Vadim Andreev, CEO of Rokky, highlights that while Steam is essential, it does not encompass the entire gaming market. A survey shows that 72% of game developers view Steam as a monopoly, sparking discussions about its classification. Andreev emphasizes the importance of exploring alternative distribution channels for global revenue. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Xbox aim to expand their presence in the gaming market, indicating a shift towards a more inclusive distribution approach.

AppWizard

October 1, 2025

Arattai’s Unexpected Surge: Road Ahead for Zoho’s Messaging App, Hard Lessons From Past

Zoho's instant messaging application, 'Arattai,' has gained significant attention as a potential alternative to WhatsApp, particularly after endorsement from Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Daily sign-ups increased from 3,000 to 350,000 within 72 hours, and Arattai now has over 1 million monthly active users. Most new users are from India, prompting Zoho to enhance its infrastructure to meet demand, although some users have faced issues like OTP delays. Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu indicated plans for a significant launch in November and discussions for messaging protocol standardization. Arattai evolved from Zoho Chat and aims to reflect India's unique needs. Challenges remain, as local platforms like Koo and Hike Messenger struggled to maintain user bases. Industry experts note that being an Indian product alone may not be enough to compete with established platforms. Arattai is focusing on user feedback, infrastructure, and plans to implement end-to-end encryption while avoiding advertising in its monetization strategy.

AppWizard

August 22, 2025

Russia Mandates Pre-Installation of MAX Messenger on All Phones as Rival to WhatsApp and Telegram

The Russian government has mandated that all smartphones and tablets sold in the country must come pre-installed with MAX, a state-backed messaging application, starting September 1, 2025. This initiative is part of a strategy to enhance control over digital communications, requiring devices to also include RuStore, Russia's domestic app store, and from January 1, 2026, all smart TVs sold must feature LIME HD TV. MAX is presented as a secure alternative to WhatsApp and Telegram, which have faced restrictions in Russia due to compliance issues. As of July 2025, WhatsApp had approximately 97.3 million users in Russia, and Telegram had around 90.8 million users. MAX, developed by VK, a state-controlled firm, reported 18 million downloads during testing. Approximately 105 million Russians own smartphones, indicating that about 72 percent of the population possesses one. There were around 216 million mobile connections in Russia as of early 2025.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

Vietnam’s internet messaging rate higher than global average

Vietnam has an internet messaging adoption rate of 95.8% among users aged 16 and above, surpassing the global average of 94.5%. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Indonesia have higher adoption rates at 98.9% and 98.4%, respectively. Among those aged 16-24, 96.7% of males and 96.3% of females use chat and messenger services, while adoption rates drop to 76.5% for men and 68.5% for women aged 65 and above. Vietnam also leads in mobile video call usage at 41.1%, compared to the global average of 35.5%. Zalo is the leading messaging platform in Vietnam with an 85% penetration rate, followed by Facebook at 59% and Messenger at 52%. As of June 30, 2024, Vietnam had 110 million social media accounts.