iWorld
Hotstar to disrupt online video subscriptions with Hotstar VIP
MUMBAI: Hotstar, India’s leading video streaming platform, launches ‘Hotstar VIP’ – a subscription that offers audiences the best of content at just INR 365 per year. The new subscription plan gives audiences the choice to watch exclusive new content under the Hotstar Specials label, their favourite Star network serials before television at 6 a.m., and the best of live sporting action, including VIVO IPL, ICC Cricket World Cup, Premier League and much more.
Speaking about the launch of ‘Hotstar VIP’, Varun Narang, Chief Product Officer, Hotstar, said, “It is our endeavour at Hotstar to delight customers with content that they resonate with, at the same time give them the power of choice at an affordable cost. Hotstar VIP is aimed at providing users accessibility – be it with the introductory price or the ability to watch exclusive new shows in multiple regional languages. It is a value proposition built with the Indian audience at the heart of it.”
A key feature of the Hotstar VIP service is ‘Hotstar Specials’ – a label that will bring bold & authentic stories made by the biggest storytellers of India to crores of consumers across India. The launch of Hotstar VIP coincides with the release of the first Hotstar Special ‘ Roar of the Lion’, a story on Chennai Super Kings amazing comeback under the leadership of M.S.Dhoni. This show will be followed by Criminal Justice, City of Dreams, Hostages and many more shows under the Hotstar Specials label.
For the first time ever, an OTT platform will allow customers to have a ‘pay by cash’ option. This is being done as a test initially, where users can subscribe to enjoy the Hotstar VIP benefits immediately with cash to be collected from their doorstep in the next 48-72 hours. Adding another layer of convenience for customers, the platform will now allow phone number logins.
Existing subscribers of Hotstar All Annual Sports plan will automatically be upgraded to Hotstar VIP, on a complimentary basis with no additional charge, and can also enjoy access to Hotstar Specials and Star serials before TV. Hotstar Premium subscribers can avail of the benefits under Hotstar VIP along with the latest American shows, blockbuster Hollywood movies and award-winning content from International studios.
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.
