Sandes, an Indian authorities different to WhatsApp and different immediate messaging apps, has been launched by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The new platform is an improve to the present Government Instant Messaging System (GIMS) that was developed to supply authorities officers with a WhatsApp-like communication app. The Sandes app can be utilized by each authorities officers and particular person customers. It requires a cellular quantity or authorities e mail ID for enroll. Once signed up, customers can ship and obtain messages in addition to new create teams or ship multimedia content material resembling pictures and movies.

Similar to WhatsApp and different main immediate messaging apps, Sandes (which suggests message in Hindi) says it makes use of end-to-end encrypted communication. The app can be utilized for sending and receiving messages or sharing pictures and movies between contacts. It additionally permits contact sharing and group chats. Further, customers may also broadcast messages or set sure messages as their favorite.

You initially have to download the Sandes app in your cellular system. It is obtainable for obtain in an APK file for smartphones operating on Android 5.Zero and above by means of the federal government’s GIMS portal. For iOS customers, the app is obtainable for obtain by means of the App Store and is appropriate with the iPhone, iPad, and the iPod contact operating on no less than iOS 12.0.

Once downloaded, you may enroll on the Sandes app utilizing your cellular quantity or e mail ID. The app will ship you a six-digit OTP for authentication. Email IDs are restricted to authorities IDs solely — should you strive to enroll with a Gmail, Hotmail, or different e mail account, you may see a discover that emails from that area usually are not allowed. Even government-related accounts like @mygov.in accounts usually are not accepted — solely official @gov.in emails can be utilized to register with the app. Otherwise, it’s a must to use your telephone quantity.

You may also edit your profile or choose your standing upon signing up on the Sandes app. All this works just like how one can replace your profile on WhatsApp.

Sandes vs WhatsApp

Although the federal government’s Sandes app carries many similarities with WhatsApp, there are some notable variations, too. The first main distinction is the choice to enroll utilizing your e mail ID on the Sandes app. For now no less than, that is restricted to authorities officers who can use their @gov.in e mail IDs to check in. This operate is not there in any respect on WhatsApp although, and everybody wants a cellular quantity to enroll on the Facebook-owned messaging platform. The Sandes app additionally helps verified accounts for presidency workers. WhatsApp, then again, does not have verified accounts for any people. The different notable change that you’re going to see on Sandes is the choice to ship chat backups to a user-preferred exterior location, together with e mail. This is not the case with WhatsApp the place you may solely again up your chats to Google Drive should you’re on Android — or iCloud should you use an iPhone.

The Sandes app additionally does not enable customers to vary their cellular quantity or e mail ID as soon as signed up. This implies that you may want to stay to your cellular quantity or e mail ID that you just used for signing as much as proceed to make use of the app. Alternatively, you may delete your account with the after which create a brand new one with a special cellular quantity or e mail ID. WhatsApp, in distinction, has a dedicated Change Number feature to allow you to simply transfer from an outdated telephone quantity to a brand new one — with out deleting your profile. There can also be an choice to sync contacts and add new contacts who’re already on the platform; you may’t invite new customers to hitch, however anybody can simply obtain the app and be part of.

The authorities hasn’t but supplied any readability on how it’s planning to make use of Sandes. But nonetheless, given the options the app at the moment has and its scope being a authorities platform, it might be adopted by people in opposition to world messaging apps together with WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal. The authorities is already asking its employees to make use of the Sandes app for his or her official communication. However, it’s but to realize recognition among the many public.

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