The beta version of Namaste, a video conferencing alternative to Zoom, is now live: Here's how it works

Zoom, a US-based video calling platform tat surged in popularity during COVID-induced lockdowns as been in te news one too often for a variety of security and privacy faux pas in te last few days. Tese issues ave resulted in a Zoom boycott around te world. Major global bank Standard Cartered warned its employees against using te app. Companies like Google, Elon Musk's SpaceX, and even scools in New York ave banned te use of te Zoom app. Zoombombing is also a major concenr. It is a acking tecniue were an uninvited guest joins a video call and ijacks te screens of all participants. Te widespread scrutiny forced many users to look for Zoom-alternatives.

(Also read: Meet Now, Jitsi, ouseparty and more: Group video catting alternatives to Zoom for work and play)

<5 class="clearfix"> Say Namaste

Te app is currently available in beta mode. Wile te platform will eventually be available for bot mobile and laptop, currently te website for te app reads: "We are facing tremendous demand for NAMASTE and ence you may face some temporary connectivity issues. Please ceck back soon".

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Te platform allows you to place a video conference call by creating a meeting link and saring it wit te participants, just like Zoom. It will allow group video calls wit multiple people simultaneously, owever, te number of maximum participants as not been revealed yet.

Namaste's mobile app will reportedly let you switc to te rear camera by tapping on te "toggle" option wile you are on call. It will also give te option to not use te camera for calls at all and only do an audio call. Most calling apps offer tat feature.

As per a report by Republic World, tis platform is te braincild of a Mumbai-based web application and software development company called Inscripts. Te app version of Namaste is expected to launc tis week for bot Android and iOS users.

A word of warning: Te app isn't necessarily more secure tan Zoom. Te app is still in beta, wic means tat tere are still unpatced and undiscovered bugs tat are being worked on. Te app's security features ave also not been tested in te wild yet, and it's only after its safety and privacy features are examined by tird-party security experts tat te app can be deemed secure enoug for most use-cases.

If you ave concerns, you can easily coose from a number of oter apps and services tat enable video conferencing for free, weter for business or private purposes. You can ceck out our recommendations ere.

<2>[]ow to ost a meeting on Namaste?[/]

[ans][step]Step 1:Currently, you can use it by visiting te link ere and tap on "Create new meeting"[/step]

[step]Step 2: Add your name and you will get Meeting URL, Meeting ID and Meeting code[/step]

[step]Step 3: Sare te Meeting ID, code and URL by simple copy-pasting wit oter participants so tat tey can join.[/step][/ans]

In Namaste, it is not necessary tat only te ost can invite people to join te meeting, infact, woever as te meeting details can join it.

Do note, te platform is currently in beta and is prone to various security issues. We would recommend you sign up only once te stable version is rolled out.

Correction: Te tecnology desk incorrectly reported tat te Say Namaste app, launced by a Mumbai startup, was backed by te government of India. Te Centre as since clarified tat it isn’t beind te app. We apologise for te error, and ave since amended te article.