Sridhar Vembu explains how Zoho’s frameworks make Arattai fast and secure

Sridhar Vembu, co-founder and Chief Scientist of Zoho, has recently provided insights into the advanced technology that fuels Arattai, Zoho's innovative messaging and calling application. In a post shared on X on October 5, 2025, Vembu described Arattai as a seemingly straightforward tool that is underpinned by extensive engineering and research efforts. Highlighting the proprietary frameworks developed internally by Zoho, Vembu emphasized how these systems contribute to Arattai’s impressive performance, scalability, and security. He noted that the app’s real-time communication capabilities are powered by a custom-built messaging and audio-visual (AV) framework, which has been meticulously refined over the past 15 years to ensure quick and clear calls and meetings. Additionally, Vembu pointed out Zoho's distributed computing framework, which has been honed over two decades. This framework is crucial for efficiently distributing workloads across servers and databases while maintaining high levels of fault tolerance, performance monitoring, and security. He explained that this robust infrastructure not only supports Arattai but also safeguards the entire Zoho cloud ecosystem. Vembu expressed his commitment to research and development, stating that the depth of innovation at Zoho stems from ongoing R&D efforts. He hinted at exciting future advancements from the company’s labs, promising users that more innovations are on the horizon. He also commended the Arattai team for their dedication over the more than five years of development, likening the discipline of engineering to spiritual dedication. Launched as a privacy-centric alternative to popular messaging applications, Arattai—which translates to 'chat' in Tamil—is built entirely on Zoho's native technology stack. Vembu’s remarks reiterate the company's dedication to creating deeply integrated software solutions. Arattai is quickly positioning itself as a competitive Indian alternative to WhatsApp, featuring unique tools designed to enhance user productivity and privacy. One notable feature is 'Meetings,' which allows users to host, join, or schedule video conferences directly within the app, providing functionality akin to Google Meet or Zoom. Another innovative addition is 'Pocket,' a personal cloud storage space within the app where users can save messages, media, and important notes without relying on self-messaging, a common practice in other apps. Moreover, Arattai includes a 'Mentions' feature inspired by Slack, making it easier for users to keep track of relevant messages. Importantly, Arattai maintains a strict no-ads policy and protects user data from being utilized for marketing purposes, a stark contrast to WhatsApp's integration with Meta’s advertising system. The app currently avoids compulsory AI features, focusing instead on providing a seamless and distraction-free communication experience.