arattai
FAQ
We know you have a lot to learn and explore about Arattai. To make it easier for you, we've put this doc together. We hope it helps!
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General
What is Arattai?
Arattai is a free, cross-platform messaging service by Zoho Corporation. It allows users to send text/voice messages, make audio/video calls, and share images, documents, and other media files. The app requires a cellular mobile number to register and use the service.
Can I trust Arattai with my data?
Arattai was built by the creators at Zoho. Our 10+ years of experience in building communication and collaboration apps for enterprises was leveraged to deliver this app. This is on top of Zoho Corporation's industry-leading commitment to user privacy.
Is the app accessible to everyone, or is it limited to a set of users?
Android and iOS apps are available in their respective app stores and are accessible to everyone.
How is Arattai different from WhatsApp?
Here are some major points that set Arattai apart from other apps on the market:
- At Arattai, we don't share your data with any third-party service providers. Your data is safe, as we have a strong focus on user privacy.
- Arattai is a cloud-based messenger and supports seamless syncing. You can access your messages from several devices at once, unlike with an app like WhatsApp.
- Arattai supports groups of up to 500 participants, audio/video calls, message reactions, disappearing messages, a doc scanner, and much more.
Groups
Is there a limit to the number of participants allowed in a group?
A max of 500 active members can be in one group.
What is the difference between an owner and an admin in a group?
- Group owners have all the rights of an admin. They cannot be removed by anyone and will remain unless they exit the group. Only the owner has the power to remove or demote an admin as a member of a group.
- Admins get to control participants from updating group info, sending messages, adding participants, allowing forwarded messages, pinning a message, and adding reactions.
How many admins can be in a group?
A group can have a max of 50 admins.
Notifications
I'm not receiving notifications on my Android device. How do I fix this?
In the Arattai app
- Go to Settings -> Notifications -> Turn on notifications
- Ensure that Do Not Disturb (DND mode) is turned off.
On the device
- Click Settings -> Arattai -> Allow notifications
Some users have reported issues with real-time notifications on their Android smartphones. Some Android smartphone manufacturers optimize battery use for all apps by blocking background services to conserve power and extend battery life. Arattai cannot display a notification when its background service is stopped, as this is a device-specific setting.
To fix this, you need to change a few settings on your Android smartphone:
- Enable auto-start for the Arattai app
- Enable notifications for the app
- Allow access for the app to run in the background
Messaging
What's the max number of reactions in a message?
Up to 50 reactions can be on one message.
Can I send an SMS/MMS in Arattai?
No, you cannot send SMSes or MMSes in Arattai.
Does this app have end-to-end encryption?
All the data is encrypted at storage. As of now, we don't have end-to-end encryption, but that's something we're currently working hard on.
What is the use of the disappearing messages option?
Once enabled, new messages sent and received in the individual or group chat will disappear after 30 minutes. There won't be any trace of those messages on the server afterward.
Calls
How many people can be in one group video call at a time?
You can have up to 6 participants in a group video call.
Are international calls chargeable?
No, all calls are over the internet. An active internet connection is all that is needed to make calls around the world.
How secure are my calls on Arattai?
All calls made via Arattai are end-to-end encrypted. This means the information shared in the call is neither accessible by the service nor by anyone in between.
Accounts
How long is the OTP valid?
There is an option to reset the OTP every 60 secs, however, the OTP is normally valid for 15 mins.
How can I close my account?
You can delete and close your Arattai account. To do so, navigate to Settings > Accounts > and click on Delete account. Deleting your account is an irreversible process, which cannot be reverted even if you do it accidentally.
Where and how is the data stored?
The data is stored in India, and all conversations and titles are encrypted in storage.
App Permissions
Why is Arattai requiring access to specific app permissions?
Request to access contacts
- To sync your Android/ iOS contacts with Arattai, you'll have to allow Arattai access to your contacts. Also, to share any contact across chats instantly, this access is necessary. If this access is denied, Arattai will not sync all your contacts and show them inside the app.
Request to access the microphone
- Arattai will require access to your microphone to facilitate you to engage in audio/ video calls and send voice messages.
Request to access the camera
- To engage in video calls and capture pictures instantly and share them in chats, you'll have to allow Arattai access to your camera.
Request to access location
- If you want to share your live location in any chat, then this app permission should be allowed. If this access is denied, then you'll not be able to share your location with any of your friends or family members in Arattai.
Request to access device storage
- To send and save photos, videos and other files, you'll have to allow Arattai access to your device storage