iWorld
Amazon Prime Video inks pact with Disney India for Marvel, ABC titles
MUMBAI: Amazon Prime Video announced a landmark content deal with Disney India to make it the streaming home for seven brand new upcoming international titles from Marvel and ABC. These shows will be available to Prime members in India immediately after they premiere in the US.
The seven shows include four exciting new Marvel series, including Inhumans and Runaways, that are already available to stream, as well as Cloak and Dagger and three ABC series including The Crossing, Station 19 and the already available show – Freeform’s Alone Together. Additionally, Prime members can watch complete seasons of their favorite international hit series, including Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Castle, Scandal and Scrubs.
“We are elated to bring quality content from Marvel and ABC to our Prime members. Whether it’s bingeing on past seasons of an old favorite or discovering your new favorite show, we believe that everyone will find something to enjoy,” said Amazon Prime Video India director content Vijay Subramaniam.
South Asia regional head – media distribution & OTT Amrita Pandey said, “It’s critical for us to make our diverse content available to fans everywhere. This opportunity with Amazon Prime Video in India allows us to bring some of our fan favorite shows from Marvel and ABC to Indian audiences on a device of their choice and convenience.”
Amazon Prime Video claims to have the largest selection of latest and exclusive movies and TV shows, stand-up comedy, ad-free across Indian and Hollywood movies, US TV shows, top/popular Indian and international kids’ shows, award winning Amazon Prime Original shows along with content from top Bollywood, regional, Indian and international studios – all available in one location/service.
iWorld
X launches XChat messaging app on iOS with calls and encryption
Standalone app marks shift from “everything app” vision, adds E2E messaging.
MUMBAI: From one big app to many small chats, X seems to be splitting its ambitions. X has rolled out its standalone messaging app, XChat, to iOS users, opening up a new front in its evolving product strategy. The app allows users to connect with existing X contacts through private and group messages, file sharing, as well as audio and video calls. The launch follows a limited beta phase, where the platform tested the product with a smaller user base to refine the experience. Now available publicly, XChat marks a notable pivot from earlier ambitions championed by Elon Musk to turn X into a single “everything app” combining messaging, payments, commerce and more.
Instead, the company under xAI ownership and backed by SpaceX appears to be building a suite of standalone applications, each targeting specific use cases while expanding its broader ecosystem.
At launch, XChat includes end-to-end encrypted messaging, PIN-based access, disappearing messages, and features such as message editing, deletion for all participants, and screenshot blocking. The company has also said the app is free from advertisements and tracking mechanisms, positioning it as a privacy-first alternative in a crowded messaging space.
However, security claims around the platform are likely to face scrutiny. Earlier iterations of XChat drew criticism from experts who argued it fell short of established encrypted platforms like Signal. With the wider rollout, the app is expected to undergo fresh evaluation to assess whether those concerns have been addressed.
Beyond messaging, XChat will also house X’s Communities feature, which is being discontinued on the main platform due to low usage and spam concerns. Migrating these users could provide an early boost to adoption, effectively turning XChat into both a communication and community hub.
The move underscores a broader recalibration at X less about cramming everything into one app, and more about spreading bets across multiple touchpoints, one message at a time.
