India now has a homegrown messaging app that is positioning itself as a credible alternative to WhatsApp. Arattai, developed by Chennai-based Zoho Corporation, aims to provide a secure, versatile, and user-friendly platform for everyday communication.
The name Arattai, which means “casual chat” in Tamil, reflects the app’s goal of making messaging simple and enjoyable. Users can send text messages, images, videos, and documents, make voice and video calls, share stories, and manage channels. Businesses can also use the platform to reach audiences through content-sharing tools, making it a useful option for both personal and professional communication.
Currently, Arattai offers end-to-end encryption for calls, keeping voice and video conversations private. However, messages themselves are not fully encrypted, leaving a privacy gap compared to WhatsApp. Addressing this limitation will be key for the app to compete with established messaging platforms.
Zoho Corporation, founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas, is a veteran in software development. Headquartered in Chennai, Zoho offers more than 55 business applications and serves over 130 million users in 150 countries. Its clients include global companies such as Amazon, Netflix, Toyota, and Sony. With its motto “Made in India. Made for the world,” Zoho continues to develop products that compete internationally while supporting local innovation.
Though Arattai is still expanding its features and improving security, it is carving a niche as a homegrown messaging platform. If Zoho can close the encryption gap and continue to enhance the app, Arattai could emerge as a strong alternative to WhatsApp for millions of Indian users.
(Tamil Craze)
