Viber

Viber
Name	Viber
Developer	Rakuten
Initial release	2010
Written in	C++ / Objective-C / Java (client)
Operating system	Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux
License	Proprietary

Viber is a cross-platform proprietary instant messaging and voice over IP application for smartphones, tablets and personal computers. Launched in 2010, it integrates text messaging, voice calling, video calling and multimedia sharing into a single client aimed at consumers and businesses. The service has evolved through acquisitions, regional partnerships and feature expansions to compete with services from major technology and communications firms.

History

The service was founded in 2010 by entrepreneurs with backgrounds connected to Israeli technology startups and venture capital, launching shortly after the debut of the iPhone and alongside contemporaries like WhatsApp, Skype, LINE and Telegram. Early growth paralleled expansions by Apple Inc. and Google LLC in the mobile ecosystem, with the app leveraging smartphone address books similar to BlackBerry Messenger and advertising models seen with Facebook's early mobile efforts. In 2014 the company was acquired by Rakuten in a transaction reported alongside other acquisitions by global conglomerates such as SoftBank Group and Tencent. Subsequent years saw strategic moves including partnerships with regional carriers like Tata Communications and integrations with platforms influenced by companies such as Microsoft and Amazon for cloud services. The app's timeline intersects with regulatory and privacy debates involving entities like European Commission, Federal Communications Commission and national data protection authorities in markets including Japan, Israel, Ukraine and Russia.

Features

The client offers features found in contemporary messaging platforms: one-to-one texting, group chats, voice calls, video calls, stickers and file transfer, comparable to offerings from WeChat, Signal and LINE. It supports rich media content akin to YouTube embedding and integrates with contact lists similar to Gmail and Apple Contacts. Additional functionalities have included Public Accounts and Channels reminiscent of Twitter and Telegram channels, business messaging features comparable to WhatsApp Business and callable credits resembling services from Vonage and Twilio. The platform also implemented stickers and in-app purchases inspired by digital marketplaces such as App Store and Google Play. For enterprise-style deployments, features echoing unified communications suites like Zoom and Cisco Systems's offerings have been introduced or explored.

Platforms and compatibility

Clients are available for mainstream consumer platforms including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and many distributions of Linux. Cross-platform synchronization is managed similarly to solutions by Microsoft Outlook and Dropbox, while desktop implementations parallel native apps produced by Slack Technologies and Skype. The service has been distributed through digital storefronts such as Google Play and App Store and adapted to regional handset ecosystems like those from Samsung Electronics and Xiaomi. Compatibility challenges have involved interactions with operating system policies governed by Apple Inc.'s App Store Review Guidelines and Google LLC's Play Store rules, as well as telecom network interoperability with carriers such as Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom.

Security and privacy

Security features have evolved amid scrutiny from privacy advocates like Electronic Frontier Foundation and standards bodies such as the Internet Engineering Task Force. End-to-end encryption implementations have been compared to those used by Signal and WhatsApp, while cryptographic debates referenced algorithms and protocols associated with projects from OpenSSL and research by academics affiliated with institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University. Jurisdictional data requests and compliance have involved interactions with state authorities including European Commission regulators and law enforcement agencies in countries such as India and Ukraine, raising questions similar to those seen in cases involving Apple Inc. and Google LLC. The app's security posture includes measures parallel to two-factor authentication approaches advocated by National Institute of Standards and Technology and incident response practices used by Cisco Systems and Microsoft Corporation.

Business model and monetization

Revenue strategies have combined in-app purchases, sticker sales, business messaging services and partnerships with digital advertisers and carriers, akin to monetization mixes used by LINE, WeChat and Facebook. Corporate ownership by Rakuten placed the product within a broader ecosystem of e-commerce and loyalty programs reminiscent of Amazon's Prime services and Alibaba Group's integrations. The platform explored B2B tools comparable to Twilio's programmable messaging and Zendesk integrations for customer engagement, and it has tested features related to digital payments as seen in regions where PayPal and Alipay operate.

Market presence and reception

Adoption has varied by region, with strong user bases reported in markets such as Eastern Europe, parts of the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Japan, competing with regional incumbents like LINE in Japan, WeChat in China and WhatsApp in South Asia. Media coverage and industry analysis from outlets like The New York Times, The Guardian, Bloomberg L.P. and Reuters have tracked its consumer uptake, security announcements and corporate transactions. Reviews from technology publications including Wired (magazine), TechCrunch and The Verge compared its feature set and privacy posture to alternatives such as Signal and Telegram, while market research firms like Statista, Gartner, Inc. and IDC included the service in analyses of global messaging trends. Regulatory events and geopolitical developments in countries like Russia, Ukraine and Israel have intermittently influenced availability and public perception.

Category:Instant messaging clients