New Delhi: WhatsApp, the most downloaded chat application in India and the global arena, is also testing a new feature which would enable users to send messages to individuals in other applications such as Arattai. This concept is what Sridhar Vembu, Zoho founder and the man behind Arattai, has been preaching long before. He wishes his ambition to be able to chat between various applications as simply as sending an email. That dream is now beginning to become real.
The messaging applications have been operating on closed systems over the years. An instance of the WhatsApp user could only call a WhatsApp user and one who used Arattai or Telegram could not send a message to a Whatsapp user. This would tend to see people download numerous applications simply because they want to keep in touch with everybody. However, this could be transformed by the new feature of WhatsApp, which is termed as cross-platform messaging. Very soon, you could send a message to your WhatsApp account to your friend account, which is in the Arattai one, without changing the application.
The trials of this new feature have already begun in some of the countries. It is also under development to enable the user of one application to chat to another without any danger or inconvenience. As an illustration, an individual that utilizes WhatsApp can send text messages, pictures, voice records, or even files to another person that uses another messaging application. Nevertheless, not every feature will be effective at the outset. Features such as fading away messages, statuses or broadcast lists can take a longer time to be able to be used cross-app.
The principle is so straightforward: similarly to being able to send an email in Gmail to Yahoo, messaging should be able to do the same. Sridhar Vembu, the greatest Indian technology product builder, has always thought that apps must be unlocked and interconnected, not locked. He has explained that the digital systems must be similar to UPI payments- where all people can use and connect. Not only is this method good in terms of fostering fairness, but it also fosters local innovation.
Will Arattai ever replace WhatsApp
The firm of Zoho run by Vembu produced Arattai as a substitute of WhatsApp in India, which was created during the pandemic. Arattai is a Tamil word translated into chat. The app was privacy-oriented and it was intended to provide Indians with a secure and convenient communication platform. Arattai also became more popular with time; users who wanted to use an Indian application rather than international ones were more inclined to use it. However, in case WhatsApp does enable cross-app chatting, then Arattai may have an even greater amount of followers and viewers.
The relationship between WhatsApp and Arattai will not occur in one day. To make this happen, the two apps should adhere to robust security and encryption guidelines. The encryption in WhatsApp is end to end, thus the receiver and the sender are the only people who can see the message. In case Arattai would like to reach WhatsApp, it would also have to ensure that messages are kept as confidential and secure. This is nominal as privacy is among the largest concerns of users in the contemporary era.
In case this feature is introduced in India, it might complicate chatting and make it more adaptable to all people. Imagine that you do not need to bother about what app is used by your friend. One can simply send a WhatsApp message and it would go to them on their Arattai account immediately. This might also popularize Indian made apps and weaken the dominance of some major international platforms. It could provide small technological firms with a reasonable opportunity to compete.
This is a good development to students and young users. A good number of you already have multiple applications used to chat around, WhatsApp so that you can discuss your school, Telegram so that you can study, Signal or Arattai so that you can keep your privacy. Cross-platform messaging can ensure that we do not have to multitask between so many applications any more. It would save time, information, and confusion. Moreover, it might make Indian startups develop new apps with the awareness that they can continue reaching larger platforms.
Nevertheless, one should remember a few things. The feature is currently under testing in small regions and it is not offered to all. It will take WhatsApp a long time to ensure that all goes on well before it can roll it to the global audience. Privacy is also an issue, every application will have to ensure that messages are well guarded such that nobody can abuse user information.
So the next time you open WhatsApp, think about this, you may be soon sending a Hi to a friend, not only through WhatsApp, but also through Arattai.
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