Now WhatsApp video call allows 8 participants; govt offers Rs 1 cr for homegrown Zoom

Though it can’t quite compete with Zoom yet, WhatsApp, which is the most used messaging app in the country, has upped its game. Using its latest update, WhatsApp has the capacity to support an organization video call with as many as eight participants.

This might help family groups especially, whose members are scattered across various spots hook up and bond together at a time of physical distancing.

Currently the update is only available for beta users, and its own stable version is likely to be rolled out soon to everyone, after any glitches that surface get fixed.

As WhatsApp can’t yet replace Zoom, which includes many capabilities such as for example screen sharing, apart from the capacity to carry videoconferences with as much as 100 participants, it cannot be used for large team meetings and other official purposes. But with the security concerns overriding Zoom’s advantages, the federal government of India is reported to have launched an iphone app development challenge to create a Zoom alternative.

The Centre had recently issued an advisory against the usage of Zoom for official purposes, saying the application was not secure.

The government has therefore started the innovation challenge, offering prize money of Rs 1 crore to facilitate work from home by using a secure solution to replace Zoom.

Registration for the task commenced on April 13, NDTV reported. It closes on April 30.

Interested app developers check out the details at https://secure.mygov.in/task/innovation-challenge-development-video-conferencing-solution/  

The very best video conferencing application would of course have end-to-end encryption, be usable in areas with low data connectivity, and function on a myriad of supported devices, when using less power.

The winning team can not only receive the 1 crore reward but their iphone app will also be certified by the Ministry of Electronics and IT.

The winners will be declared on July 29.