Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is promoting Arattai, an Indian-made messaging application available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. He encourages users to adopt the application, supporting the ‘Swadeshi’ initiative promoting locally-made products. Developed by Zoho, Arattai aims to rival global tech giants. The Indian government’s adoption of Zoho’s platform for official tasks further underscores its potential.
WhatsApp currently has over 400 million daily active users. Its features, including voice notes, file sharing, and money transfers, have made it successful and a trusted communication tool for many Indians. A complete shift away from WhatsApp is unlikely, as it is essential for daily communication and many businesses. Arattai needs to offer significant advantages to convince users to switch.
The issue of data privacy is a growing concern. Many apps require user data access for personalized experiences, raising questions about data usage. It’s too early to know how Arattai will handle user data; however, its focus on Indian users could mean it avoids exploiting personal data. Government support might attract users and build public trust.