Zoho-backed messaging platform Arattai will introduce its long-awaited end-to-end encryption feature, with a new app update rolling out on Tuesday night, Co-Founder & Chief Scientist Sridhar Vembu said in a post on X.
The update will address one of Arattai’s key gaps as it seeks to compete with privacy-centric global messaging app, WhatsApp. Vembu noted that “many more cool features” are lined up once “this big transition” is completed. He urged users to update the app immediately and spread the word. “Please update the Arattai app from the Play Store/App Store and please encourage your contacts to do so. The end-to-end encryption will be enabled Tuesday night IST,” he said.
The encryption will work only when both parties in a conversation are using the latest version of the app. “If you are on the latest Arattai version and your contact is on the latest version, you will only be able to use end-to-end encrypted chat with that contact,” Vembu explained.
In such cases, Arattai will automatically create a new encrypted chat session, while the older, non-encrypted session will be archived. “So you cannot continue the old chat session with any contact who is in the end-to-end encrypted version of the app. The old chat screen will simply redirect you to the end-to-end chat screen,” he said.
For contacts still on older versions, users can continue using the previous chat session for up to three days. After this transition period, Arattai plans to move everyone to the latest version and make end-to-end encryption mandatory across the system.
However, group chats are not yet covered under the new encryption protocol. Vembu said support for group encryption will be introduced “in a few weeks” for groups of a certain size, with encrypted chat backups expected to arrive in about two weeks.
Arattai’s rankings on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store have dropped sharply in recent weeks after the initial buzz and government endorsements that had propelled downloads. The platform is now looking to revive user interest by leaning on its privacy pitch, anchored around the rollout of end-to-end encryption.
