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Soon after the launch of ‘Koo’ by two Indian promoters, an Indian counterpart of US based micro-blogging platform Twitter, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) on Thursday launched a WhatsApp alternative- the ‘Sandes’ app.

Amidst the controversy around WhatsApp’s privacy policy, the Indian government launched Sandes as a home-grown alternative to instant messaging apps. The new app is an extension of the Government Instant Messaging System (GIMS) which was a replica of WhatsApp-like communication platform but was only accessible to government employees. The Sandes app is open for both the government employees as well as other individuals.

To sign up for the Sandes app, you require a mobile number or a government email ID. After this, users can send and receive text messages, images, videos and can share contacts. One can also create a group and broadcast messages like WhatsApp. The government-initiated app also claims to have end-to-end encryption of conversations.

The app is available for both android and iOS users in India.

How to use Sandes App?

If you’re looking to join the domestic instant messaging app, here’s how you can go about it.

• Download Sandes app on your mobile phone. For android users, it can be downloaded as an APK file through government’s GIMS portal (gims.gov.in). The iPhone users can directly download the app from App Store.
• Once downloaded, sign up with your mobile number or a government email ID. Mail IDs from gmail, yahoo, hotmail or other accounts are not allowed. Only official @gov.in mails are enabled for signing up on the app.
• Update your profile by entering an username. One can add a profile picture and a status as well, similar to WhatsApp.
• Hereafter, you can start a conversation with anyone using the Sandes app. Contacts can be synced on the app, however, you can’t send join- invites to others.

What is new here?

Although, Sandes app comes across as an alternative to texting apps like WhatsApp, it still embodies some stark differences. For instance, its the first app that allows you to sign up through your email ID alongside mobile numbers. The app also provides verified accounts to recognised government employees. Unlike WhatsApp where chat back-ups are restricted to Google drive or iCloud, Sandes app provides flexibility to send chat back-ups to an external location of your choice, like your email account. You cannot change your mobile number or email ID after signing up. This means, each number or ID can hold only one account on the app.

Given the jarring controversy around WhatsApp, Sandes might be a good alternative for users perplexed about the safety of their chats elsewhere. It is also another step by the government to boost Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.