Zoho's Arattai messenger has quickly surpassed 5 million downloads, targeting low-bandwidth regions in India with its lightweight design. This app has become particularly popular in rural and semi-urban areas, offering accessible communication where high-speed internet is scarce.
Features and Market Reach
Arattai, meaning “chat” in Tamil, provides text messaging, voice and video calls, and file sharing, with an Android TV version also available. Designed specifically for low-end smartphones and areas with limited connectivity, its low data usage has accelerated its adoption.
- The app hit over 5 million downloads soon after launch.
- Arattai targets rural and semi-urban markets in India.
- It's available on Android TV, expanding its usability.
Privacy Considerations
Despite its rapid growth, Arattai's privacy features have raised concerns. While it offers encryption for voice and video calls, its text messaging relies on server-side and local storage, lacking full end-to-end encryption. Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has stated that the app was created to ensure accessible communication, but security experts have flagged these privacy issues.
