iWorld
VideoTap to unveil interactive smart video platform, to deliver dynamic, personalised VOD
MUMBAI: VideoTap Digital, the media technology company, promoted by media veteran Dilip Venkatraman, former CEO of CNN-IBN and IBN7 and Savvy Dilip, former Group CMO of ITV Network, is all set to showcase VideoTap, the next generation video platform at 4YFN – Mobile World Congress at Barcelona. VideoTap is a highly innovative, cloud based Interactive Smart Video platform, powered by proprietary patent pending technology, that is all set to transform the way video content is delivered, viewed and monetised.
Consumers want video on demand, but many times they want to watch only a specific segment within a video, and not the full video. They also want to watch many such specific segments one after the other, continuously, for a personalized experience. They do not want to waste time to search from many videos. Addressing this gap VideoTap offers consumers personalized real time video compilations, interactivity on videos, and direct-to-scene watching.
Commenting on this VideoTap founder and CEO Dilip Venkatraman said: “VideoTap is an original concept and is fundamentally differentiated from existing offerings in the world. Our highly motivated and innovative in-house technology team has built this platform from scratch. We are very excited about showcasing VideoTap at a global platform.”
VideoTap co-founder and COO Savvy Dilip adds: “Consumers want more control over their viewing experience, and we have built an entire ecosystem to deliver an unparalleled user experience. We are excited about working with video publishers, especially broadcasters and production houses, to unlock the value of their content libraries.”
Dilip Venkatraman’s last assignment was as the Group COO of ITVNetwork, which operates news channels India News, NewsX, and Sunday Guardian. Prior to that he worked at Network18 as the CEO of CNN-IBN & IBN7. Dilip has over 23 years of corporate experience, including 3 years in USA. Prior to joining TV18, he held key positions at the India Today Group and the Zee Network. He was the Head of Brand Management at Zee News and the President of Marketing for Dish TV. Dilip is an accomplished professional, with many industry benchmark setting initiatives to his credit. In 2011 Dilipwon the prestigious “News CEO of the Year Award” at the “Exchange4media News Broadcast Awards”. He is a Graduate in Public Administration, and has completed his management Program from IIM Bangalore, and the Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School, Boston.
Savvy Dilip till recently was the Group CMO of the ITVNetwork, (India News, NewsX & Sunday Guardian), where she developed and launched the network identity. Prior to that she worked at Network18 as the VP – Marketing for CNN-IBN & IBN7. She has vast experience in product management, brand management, and brand building across media including digital media, strategic alliances, programming planning, events & experiential marketing, sales enablement and public relations. Savvy was the driving force behind some of the most popular, credible and editorial driven media awards like CNN-IBN Indian of the year, IBN7 Diamond States Awards, Real Heroes, IBN7 Super Idols, Zindagi Live Awards, India Positive Awards, Citizen Journalist Awards, Young India Leaders, Guru Sishya Awards, 4GLTE, ShauryaSanman Awards. She is a Commerce Graduate and has completed her management Program from IIM Bangalore, and the Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School.
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.
