Indian Zoho Company launch our new massenger arattai app

Vishwas September 30, 2025

 From Zoho’s Roots to Arattai: A New Chapter in Indian Messaging

In India today, messaging apps are more than just tools — they are the threads that tie families, friends, work teams, and communities together. For years, WhatsApp has been the invisible backbone of these connections. But in late 2025, a homegrown challenger has leapt into view: Arattai, by Zoho Corporation.

Zoho, known widely as a maker of office tools, CRM software, and business apps, is now staking a claim in people’s everyday conversations. This is not just a product launch; it is a statement: India can build its own communication platform — one that feels local, trustworthy, and tuned to its people’s needs.

In this article, we walk you through:

  • The backstory of Arattai and what it brings
  • The latest surge in sign-ups and challenges of scaling
  • Features, limitations, and the roadmap ahead
  • Political and cultural resonance
  • What this means for users and for the messaging landscape

Let’s begin.

The Story Behind Arattai

Zoho’s journey is itself interesting. Founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas (initially as AdventNet), the company gradually built a global reputation for business software, especially for small and medium enterprises. Wikipedia+2Zoho+2

Unlike many tech firms clustered in big cities, Zoho has often embraced distributed work, rural roots, and a belief in building from within India. The Financial Express+1

Arattai is not a sudden idea — it was tested internally, and the name was known among Zoho circles before this moment. The word “Arattai” comes from Tamil, meaning “chat” or “banter.” Wikipedia+2The Tech Outlook+2

Still, the surge in 2025 has been dramatic — in just days, the app leapt from niche to headline. Let’s see how.

The Surge: 3,000 to 350,000 — 100× Growth in Days

One of the biggest stories around Arattai is the sheer speed of its adoption. According to Zoho’s own disclosures, daily new signups went from around 3,000 to 350,000 in just a few days — a 100× increase. Wikipedia+3The Financial Express+3The Economic Times+3

This was not entirely anticipated — Zoho’s founder Sridhar Vembu said their teams are scrambling to expand infrastructure “on an emergency basis” to absorb even further surges. Hindustan Times+4The Financial Express+4Hindustan Times+4

In recognition of this, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas publicly congratulated Zoho on the acceleration. The Economic Times+1

Arattai also climbed app store charts, reaching #1 in Social Networking in India — a striking feat for a newly revived messenger. Wikipedia+4The Times of India+4DQ+4

But with sudden stardom comes challenge. Zoho is now working to stabilize servers, avoid crashes, and reduce lag. The Economic Times+2The Financial Express+2

What Arattai Offers — Features & Current Gaps

Arattai presents familiar functions — messages, voice & video calls, groups, media sharing — but also some distinct features. Let us look at what is there, and what is yet to come.

What’s Already There

Unique / Differentiating Features

  • Pocket feature: This acts like a personal save / draft space. Users can store notes, messages, media temporarily. It’s a concept WhatsApp does not offer explicitly. Navbharat Times+2www.ndtv.com+2
  • Meetings: A built-in mini-meeting mechanism (schedule, group meetings) which gives Arattai overlap into productivity and not just casual chat. Navbharat Times

What’s Not Yet Fully There (or is Under Scrutiny)

  • End-to-end encryption for text messages: Calls are encrypted, but text messages currently are not fully E2EE. Many critics point this out as a gap, especially for privacy-sensitive users. Hindustan Times+5The Indian Express+5DQ+5
  • Stability / Lag / Sync delays: Some early users report delays in message sync or lag in connecting under heavy load — expected when infrastructure is stretched. DQ+2The Economic Times+2
  • Feature parity with mature apps: Stickers, bots, AR filters, etc.— some of these are absent or nascent. Analysts say Arattai will need to catch up fast to stay relevant. DQ+2The Indian Express+2
  • Usability debates over name / language resonance: While “Arattai” is meaningful in Tamil, some users in other parts of India question whether a regional name may limit its national appeal. India Today+1

The Roadmap & What Zoho Plans Next

Zoho is aware this moment is pivotal. Some clues to what lies ahead:

  • Major update in November: Sridhar Vembu said that a “big release” will come in November to add more polish and features. Hindustan Times
  • Emphasis on making messaging interoperable: Vembu has publicly said Arattai should not become a closed system or monopoly. He envisions messaging ecosystems that can interoperate, similar to UPI or email. India Today
  • Indian data hosting, transparency: Zoho emphasizes that “customer data is hosted in India” and that Arattai is built from Chennai, underlining its “Made in India, made for the world” identity. India Today+2Hindustan Times+2
  • Protocol standardization: Zoho is reportedly talking with iSpirt (the think tank behind UPI) about standardized messaging protocols. India Today

So, the future could bring better encryption, protocol openness, more features, and tighter integration across devices and apps.

Politics, Culture & National Narrative

Arattai’s rise isn’t happening in a vacuum. It rides on the wave of “Swadeshi tech,” self-reliance, and a cultural push for Indian alternatives to global tools.

  • Government endorsements: IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw publicly switched to Zoho’s office tools as part of the Swadeshi push. The Tribune+3The Economic Times+3The Times of India+3
  • Cabinet presentations via Zoho: At a press briefing, Vaishnaw said the presentation wasn’t made in PowerPoint but via Zoho Show. The Tribune+1
  • Political figure joining Arattai: Union Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has joined Arattai, signaling political support. The Economic Times
  • Endorsements from ministers: Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan endorsed Arattai, calling it free, secure, and “Made in India.” www.ndtv.com+4www.ndtv.com+4The Tech Outlook+4
  • Sridhar Vembu’s challenge to Microsoft / big tech: Vembu has publicly challenged Microsoft, claiming Zoho now offers a superior experience. The Times of India
  • Name debates: The Tamil name “Arattai” has triggered some debate among non-Tamil users about whether the name is inclusive enough for all India. India Today

These political and cultural signals give Arattai momentum beyond just tech — it is tied into a narrative of Indian tech resurgence.

Risks & Questions

Every bold bet has risks. Here are some that Arattai must navigate:

User trust & privacy
Without full end-to-end encryption for texts, privacy-conscious users may stay wary.
A Reddit user commented: “There is no End to End Encryption. Zoho said they are working on it.” Reddit

Infrastructure scaling
If servers lag or the app crashes in peak hours, it can erode confidence quickly.
Network effect problem
Messaging apps succeed when many people use them. Convincing entire social circles to migrate is hard.
Feature growth speed
Arattai must add features (bots, AR, multi-media richness, business APIs) fast enough to compete.
Balancing government support and independence
Close alignment with political messaging (Swadeshi, endorsements) helps visibility — but too much might invite scrutiny or perceptions of bias.
Sustainability & monetization
The app is free. Over time, how will Zoho sustain it? Ads, premium features, business tools? The monetization path is unclear.
Name & linguistic acceptance
Ensuring the name resonates pan-India, not just southern or Tamil users.

What Users Should Watch & Try

If you’re curious about Arattai, here are things to test or keep an eye on:

  • Try migrating your chat history from WhatsApp; see whether media and message order preserve correctly.
  • Check how messages sync across multiple devices (phone + desktop).
  • Test reliability under weak networks — does it lag?
  • Watch when encryption for texts arrives (if and when Zoho rolls it out).
  • Try using “Pocket” and “Meetings” — see whether they add real value.
  • Follow news for the November update — it might bring major changes.

Bigger Picture: Messaging, Sovereignty & What’s Changing

Arattai’s rise is not merely about an app; it is a microcosm of larger trends:

  • Digital sovereignty: Countries increasingly want control over their data, reducing dependence on foreign technology.
  • Innovation from within: Many Indian tech giants are pushing into consumer tech, not just enterprise tools.
  • User expectations evolving: As digital literacy increases, users demand more privacy, better features, and local context.
  • Platform diversity: A world with multiple messaging platforms, interoperable protocols, and user choice may replace monopolies.

Arattai might not dethrone WhatsApp overnight — but if it builds steadily, it could become a trusted alternative for millions in India.

Conclusions

Arattai, launched by Zoho, is riding a wave. Its swift adoption, political backing, and “Made in India” identity give it a rare kind of momentum. But the journey ahead is steep: scaling, feature parity, trust, and retention will be the tests.

For users, Arattai offers a fresh option — one that speaks local, promises integration with Zoho’s tools, and dares to dream big. Even if it never replaces WhatsApp, its very existence is a turning point in India’s digital story.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is Arattai?

Arattai is a Made-in-India messaging app developed by Zoho Corporation. The word Arattai comes from Tamil, meaning “chat” or “banter.” It allows users to send text messages, make voice and video calls, share media, and even host group meetings.

2. Who created Arattai?

Arattai is built by Zoho Corporation, a Chennai-based software company founded by Sridhar Vembu. Zoho is already famous worldwide for its business software, and Arattai marks its push into consumer communication.

3. Why is Arattai in the news now?

Recently, Arattai saw a 100x surge in users — from 3,000 to 350,000 daily signups. The app also topped the App Store charts in India under Social Networking, making it one of the most downloaded apps in September 2025.

4. What makes Arattai different from WhatsApp?

Arattai offers some unique features not available in WhatsApp, like:

  • Pocket: A space to save notes, drafts, and media privately.

  • Meetings: Built-in group meetings for productivity.

  • Zoho Integration: Direct link with Zoho’s business apps like Cliq.

5. Does Arattai support multi-device use?

Yes. You can log in and use Arattai on multiple devices (like phone, tablet, desktop) at the same time, making it convenient for both personal and work use.

6. Is Arattai secure?

Arattai calls are encrypted, but currently text messages are not end-to-end encrypted. Zoho has confirmed they are working on improving this soon. Users should watch for updates in upcoming releases.

7. Where is Arattai’s data stored?

Zoho has announced that Arattai stores data in India. This local hosting is part of its “Made in India, Made for the World” vision, aimed at boosting trust and sovereignty.

8. What languages does Arattai support?

The app’s name is Tamil, but Arattai itself supports multiple Indian languages. Zoho plans to expand support so that it feels inclusive and friendly across India.

9. Is Arattai free to use?

Yes. Arattai is completely free, with no subscription charges. Zoho has not yet announced how they will monetize it in the future.

10. Can I transfer chats from WhatsApp to Arattai?

Yes. Arattai provides an option to import chats from WhatsApp, so users can migrate smoothly without losing past conversations.

11. Who are the key supporters of Arattai?

Several political leaders, including Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan, have endorsed or joined Arattai, giving it credibility and visibility.

12. What updates are coming next?

Zoho has announced a major update in November 2025. This is expected to include better security (possibly end-to-end encryption), new features, and performance improvements.

13. Will Arattai replace WhatsApp in India?

It’s too early to say. WhatsApp still has a huge user base, but Arattai is gaining attention as a trusted Indian alternative. Even if it doesn’t replace WhatsApp, it may carve out its own loyal audience.

14. How can I download Arattai?

Arattai is available on both Google Play Store (Android) and Apple App Store (iOS). Just search for Arattai Messenger and install it.

Vishwas

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