Jump to content

Sandes (software): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
removed www from website link to make it more minimal and digesting
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
removed unnecessary url elements
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
Line 37: Line 37:
}}
}}


'''Sandes''' is an Indian [[state-owned]] [[freeware]] [[instant messaging]] platform developed by the [[Government of India]]. It runs on [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]] and in [[web browser]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sandes Portal, Government Instant Messaging System, Government of India|url=https://www.sandes.gov.in|access-date=2021-03-27|website=www.sandes.gov.in}}</ref> The platform is hosted exclusively at Government infrastructure and both are governed by the rules and regulations of Government of India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sandes - Apps on Google Play|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.nic.gimkerala&hl=en_US&gl=US|access-date=2021-03-27|website=play.google.com|language=en}}</ref>
'''Sandes''' is an Indian [[state-owned]] [[freeware]] [[instant messaging]] platform developed by the [[Government of India]]. It runs on [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]] and in [[web browser]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sandes Portal, Government Instant Messaging System, Government of India|url=https://www.sandes.gov.in|access-date=2021-03-27|website=www.sandes.gov.in}}</ref> The platform is hosted exclusively at Government infrastructure and both are governed by the rules and regulations of Government of India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sandes - Apps on Google Play|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.nic.gimkerala|access-date=2021-03-27|website=play.google.com|language=en}}</ref>


Sandes offers instant messaging, [[Voice over IP|VoIP]], File sharing and integration within various Indian Government digital services. In initial releases it was only accessible by government officials but now it is available for the public. At present, full features of the platform are only available to verified users.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sandes privacy policy|url=https://www.sandes.gov.in/privacy|access-date=2021-03-27|website=www.sandes.gov.in}}</ref>
Sandes offers instant messaging, [[Voice over IP|VoIP]], File sharing and integration within various Indian Government digital services. In initial releases it was only accessible by government officials but now it is available for the public. At present, full features of the platform are only available to verified users.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sandes privacy policy|url=https://www.sandes.gov.in/privacy|access-date=2021-03-27|website=www.sandes.gov.in}}</ref>

Revision as of 17:24, 28 December 2023

Sandes
Developer(s)
Initial releaseAugust 2020; 4 years ago (2020-08)
Operating system
Size
  • 21.6 MB (Android)
  • 70.9 MB (iOS)
Type
LicenseFreeware
Websitesandes.gov.in

Sandes is an Indian state-owned freeware instant messaging platform developed by the Government of India. It runs on Android, iOS and in web browsers.[1] The platform is hosted exclusively at Government infrastructure and both are governed by the rules and regulations of Government of India.[2]

Sandes offers instant messaging, VoIP, File sharing and integration within various Indian Government digital services. In initial releases it was only accessible by government officials but now it is available for the public. At present, full features of the platform are only available to verified users.[3]

History

In 2019, the Government of India started a project to build an instant messaging platform named Government Instant Messaging System (GIMS) as part of its Make in India initiative. The main goal of the project was to provide a secure messaging platform to government employees for internal communication which doesn't arouse the security concerns attached with the communication platforms hosted abroad or those owned by foreign entities. The initial software testing started in mid-September 2019 and ran for an extensive period of time. Around 6,600 government officials from various departments participated in this pilot program which reported to have exchanged about 20 lakh messages. Later in February 2021 the client application was rebranded as Sandes and published in the official website. This time the program was made available to the public in limited number.[4][5][6]

Features

Sandes allows users to make end-to-end encrypted one-to-one and group messages. Also allows users to make end-to-end encrypted one-to-one voice and video calls. Messaging feature include forward, forward to mail, broadcast, backup, text customisation and tag. Tag is a functionality to mark a message as Confidential, on Priority or as Auto Delete. If a message is marked Auto Delete then it will be automatically deleted once the recipient reads it. Currently Sandes is integrated with NIC email, DigiLocker and eOffice. So users can access these services without leaving the platform.[7][8]

Limitations

A valid mobile number is required to sign up. Public users are limited to one to one chat. An official group is limited to 200 members. A casual group is limited to 50 members. Broadcast list is limited to ten contacts at a time. Users are only allowed to send the following file types: documents (doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, pdf), images (jpeg, jpg, png), audio (mp3, m4a), video (mp4). File size is limited to 15mb per file.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sandes Portal, Government Instant Messaging System, Government of India". www.sandes.gov.in. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Sandes - Apps on Google Play". play.google.com. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Sandes privacy policy". www.sandes.gov.in. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  4. ^ Verma, Shubham. "Indian government reportedly building its own WhatsApp-like chat app: Everything you should know". India Today. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Government testing GIMs, its secure messaging app". The Indian Express. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Sandes app: Better WhatsApp alternative? What about user data? We answer your questions". The Indian Express. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  7. ^ Sandes Quick Reference Guide – Android (PDF).
  8. ^ Sandes Quick Reference Guide – iOS (PDF).
  9. ^ Sandes Faq v2.0 (PDF).