Zoho Corporation’s Arattai messaging app has made headlines in India, witnessing a staggering 100x explosion in daily sign-ups over just three days, with registrations rocketing from 3,000 to 350,000 per day. This surge, confirmed directly by co-founder Sridhar Vembu on X(formerly Twitter), underscores the app’s rapid mainstream adoption, fueled by government endorsement, social media momentum, and heightened demand for privacy-focused, India-made digital products.
Arattai, meaning “casual chat” in Tamil, first launched in 2021 as an experimental product from Zoho, but only recently entered the spotlight. Its core functionality includes personal and group messaging, media sharing, voice notes, video calls, and broadcast channels. Notably, Zoho promises not to monetize user data, a stance resonating strongly at a time when data privacy and digital sovereignty dominate the public discourse.
The unprecedented rise in sign-ups was catalyzed by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s public endorsement of homegrown tech solutions where Arattai became the flagship example.
With user registrations surging, Zoho faces the immediate challenge of scaling its backend infrastructure. Early adopters reported delays in OTP delivery, contact syncing issues, and occasional failures in calls a typical scenario during periods of exponential growth. Sridhar Vembu acknowledged these hurdles and revealed that major updates and infrastructure expansions, initially scheduled for November, have now become urgent priorities. Zoho engineers are working around the clock to stabilize and expand the service.
Also Read: Why Zoho Is Suddenly India’s Hottest Tech Story and What Comes Next?
