Zoho launches messaging platform Arattai

Chennai-based unicorn Zoho, which offers enterprise-focused human resource management and productivity software solutions, has launched a consumer-facing instant messaging app Arattai.

Arattai, which means ‘chit chat’ in Tamil, has raked in more than 10,000 installs on Google Play and has a rating of 4.6 in its current beta phase. Users can also access its Notebook and Doc Scanner offerings through the app, a statement said.

Specific queries sent to the company remained unanswered at the time of publishing this report. 

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The launch follows the widely-debated update rolled out by WhatsApp, which requires users to allow the company to share their app and payments data with Facebook’s group of companies. 

Sridhar Vembu, co-founder and CEO of Zoho, in a tweet, said that the current version was for “friends and family” and that the app would be formally launched in the coming weeks.

Our Arattai team asked me to not talk about our instant messaging app yet but since it is already being talked about, I guess I can talk too.

This is a friends-and-family trial release. We will do a formal launch in a few weeks. We have a lot more in store. Stay tuned!

— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) January 10, 2021

Tested by TechCircle, the app appears clean, and offers a tab of options to access starred messages, mentions and contacts directly. It provides standard messaging app features, such as group video calls, but it is not immediately clear whether the app has enabled end-to-end encryption or not.

The app also offers security features such as passcode lock and disappearing messages, as well as screen security to prevent app switcher appearance and text copy to block clipboard access. 

On Google Play, Zoho notes that the service is free to use and will not operate on an ad-based revenue model. “Customer privacy is our number one priority. Arattai makes sure that your data is private and is accessible only by you!” it says.