Facetime vs Viber

2022. Messaging app Viber launches Payments - a new digital wallet



Viber, the messaging app owned by Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, is launching Payments on Viber — a new service that will let users set up digital wallets tied to their Viber accounts. Linked to other bank accounts as well as Visa and Mastercard, Payments wallets can in turn be used to make bill payments and buy goods, as well as transfer money to other individuals. Peer-to-peer transfers will be the first of these services to launch, and these will be free. Services like payments to businesses likely will have some fees attached. The service is being launched first in two markets — Germany and Greece — with the plan being to extend that to the rest of Europe, and then Viber’s wider global footprint of 180 countries, this year and next.


2014. Viber adds public chats


Messaging app Viber is launching a new social feature - Public Chats, giving users a way of using its direct messaging and voice services to broadcast to the world at large.  Public Chats will see the introduction of live conversation streams — from celebrities, or other interesting people, that will be open for any follower to see, but not necessarily participate in. Users will only be able to jump in and talk in Public Chats if the account in question is in their contacts.  Right now, there is no option for everyone to enable their streams to become part of the public mix but those who feel their chats are Public Chat-worthy can email publicchats@viber.com