Made in India whatsApp rival Arattai launches on smart TVs: installation guide and key features explained

Zoho’s Arattai, a Made-in-India WhatsApp rival, expands to Android TV, enabling big-screen chats, video calls, QR login, external webcam support, and easy installation for smart TV users across Indian households.

India’s homegrown messaging app Arattai has been growing steadily in recent months – now it’s aiming to become a true family room affair by rolling out to Android TV and smart TVs. Announced by Zoho Corporation founder Sridhar Vembu on Twitter, Arattai can now be installed on large smart screens and used for chats, voice calls and even video meetings without a phone or computer. It’s the first time a messaging app made in India has been launched on smart TV OS and channels.

According to the social media post, the new update will sync chats and upcoming meetings onto large displays with Android TV OS 7 and up. The app will work natively on smart TVs as well as Android TV devices, bringing Arattai support to phones, tablets, computers and now televisions.

Messaging features on Android TV

• The Smart TV version of Arattai allows users to use the app in a more “social” way by interacting on a bigger screen. This includes:
• Viewing and replying to conversations from the convenience of the TV remote.
• Making individual video calls or attending meetings.
• Viewing upcoming events and recorded meetings without a smartphone or laptop.
• Arattai’s QR-based login feature also makes it easy to sign in to the smart TV app without having to tediously type a username and password using the TV remote. Simply scan the QR code that the smart TV app displays using the mobile Arattai app and the phone and TV will sync the account data.

As many TVs lack in-built cameras, the smart TV app is also compatible with webcams and external microphones plugged into the USB port. This makes it possible to do video calling from the TV screen itself for catching up with family or participating in virtual meetings.

Installation Steps

• Installing Arattai on an Android TV or a smart TV is a simple 3-step process:
• Launch the Google Play Store app on the smart TV.
• Search for “Arattai” and tap on the app in the search results.
• Tap on Install, wait for it to download, and then tap on Open.
• Open Arattai on the TV and scan the QR code with the phone app to log in.

After signing in, the app will sync chat history and upcoming meetings between the phone and the smart TV. Arattai also has a desktop app, but the company hasn’t yet developed a TV app for Windows or macOS platforms.

Why is this important?

Arattai has been one of the most downloaded and talked about messaging apps in India this year, as more and more people look for a WhatsApp alternative. As well as being a local-made rival to the more popular global apps, Arattai has been backed by Indian regulators and received strong support from various influencers online.

WhatsApp remains a much more widely used app than Arattai and it will take a lot more than smart TV support to catch up. But the new Android TV rollout will let Arattai users use their app for group video calls and meetings on a bigger screen, and that’s something not offered by most other messaging apps.