Arattai: India’s Answer to WhatsApp? Features, Launch and Quick Review
What is Arattai and why it matters
Arattai is a messaging app introduced by Zoho. The company describes it as a locally built messaging platform that offers text chat, voice notes, document sharing, status-style stories, and audio/video calls. Zoho positions Arattai as an open, Indian alternative to global messaging apps and has made the app available for users in India at no cost.
- Core messaging: One-to-one and group chats, read receipts, and media sharing.
- Calls: Voice and video calls with low latency claims based on Zoho’s backend.
- File support: Documents, images and media sharing integrated with phone contacts.
- Stories/status: Short updates similar to other messaging apps.
- Design: Clean, minimal interface focused on speed and clarity.
Design, AI and technical notes
The app follows a straightforward design language familiar to users of modern chat apps. Zoho engineers have highlighted performance and reliability, noting the reuse of internal communication modules from other Zoho products. While Arattai currently focuses on core communication features, the company has indicated room for future enhancements that may include smarter search or AI-assisted messaging features — but nothing overtly AI-driven is required to use the app today.
What Sridhar Vembu and the team say
Zoho’s founder has framed the project as the work of dedicated engineers building a practical tool. He emphasises long-term engineering focus and an interest in open protocols. The leadership expresses a preference for interoperability rather than a closed ecosystem, aligning with broader calls for open standards in messaging.
Release, availability and first impressions
Arattai is available for download in India and is free to use. Early reports show rapid interest and strong download activity during the launch window. In practice, the app behaves like a competent messaging client: quick to set up, responsive in chat, and adequate for small-group conversations. The larger question remains whether it can scale to meet the network effects that make incumbents hard to displace.
- Users interested in a locally developed messaging option.
- People who want a simple alternative without extra ecosystems.
- Those curious about interoperability and open messaging standards.
FAQs
Q: Is Arattai free to use?
A: Yes, Arattai is offered free to users in India at launch.
Q: Will Arattai be compatible with other messaging apps?
A: Zoho has signalled interest in open and interoperable approaches, but wide interoperability will depend on standards and further development.
Q: Who built Arattai?
A: The app is developed by Zoho with leadership and engineering direction discussed publicly by the company’s founder and senior engineers.
