Viber (Rakuten)

Viber (Rakuten)
Name	Viber (Rakuten)
Developer	Rakuten
Released	2010
Operating system	Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux
Genre	Instant messaging, VoIP

Viber (Rakuten) is a cross-platform instant messaging and voice-over-IP application acquired by Rakuten in 2014. It enables text, voice, and video communication and competes with services from WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, Telegram (software), and Skype (software). The service has been deployed globally including markets like Japan, United States, Russia, Ukraine, and Israel.

History

Viber launched in 2010, founded by entrepreneurs linked to Isreali startup culture, shortly after milestones set by Apple Inc. and Google LLC in mobile app ecosystems. Early funding and growth paralleled expansions by Skype (software) and acquisitions such as WhatsApp by Meta Platforms, and culminated in Rakuten's acquisition in 2014, joining a corporate group that includes Rakuten Ichiba and Viber Media. Post-acquisition strategy resembled moves by LINE Corporation and KakaoTalk to integrate payments and content, leading to partnerships reminiscent of alliances between Sony Corporation and Microsoft in digital media. Expansion efforts competed in markets contested by Nokia feature phone remnants, regulatory scrutiny noted in comparisons with cases involving Apple v. Samsung, and regional incidents similar to disputes affecting Telegram (software) in Russia and Iran.

Features and services

Viber provides messaging, voice calling, and video calling similar to offerings by Skype (software), FaceTime, and Zoom Video Communications. It supports group chats with features reflecting innovations seen in Slack (software), stickers and emoji packs comparable to LINE Corporation sticker commerce, and public chat channels echoing elements from Twitter and Reddit. Viber added end-to-end encryption like Signal (software) and WhatsApp, and offers Viber Out prepaid calling like traditional carriers such as AT&T and Verizon Communications. Multimedia sharing, file transfer, and location features parallel capabilities found in Telegram (software), while business messaging and chatbots follow models used by Facebook Messenger Platform, WeChat, and Twilio.

Platform support and technology

The client is available on mobile platforms including Android and iOS, desktop platforms including Microsoft Windows and macOS, and has supported Linux distributions similar to other cross-platform apps like Firefox and Skype for Linux. Backend infrastructure leverages cloud services and networking patterns reminiscent of deployments by Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure for scalability used by Netflix and Spotify. Protocol and codec choices reflect industry standards such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), WebRTC, and audio codecs used by Opus (audio format) and AAC (audio coding). Development practices and updates have followed trends set by GitHub hosted projects and continuous delivery approaches advocated by DevOps pioneers like Atlassian.

Privacy, security, and encryption

Viber implemented end-to-end encryption policies following precedents from Signal (software) and legal confrontations similar to those involving Apple Inc. and Federal Bureau of Investigation over access to encrypted devices. Security audits and vulnerabilities have been discussed in contexts comparable to disclosures affecting WhatsApp and Telegram (software), while regulatory compliance considerations echo cases seen with European Commission privacy enforcement and rulings under General Data Protection Regulation. The service introduced features like hidden chats and two-factor authentication paralleling practices by Google LLC accounts and Microsoft account security. Incidents involving metadata handling have drawn comparisons to debates around Snowden disclosures and policy discussions in forums such as Internet Governance Forum.

Business model and partnerships

Revenue streams combine in-app purchases, sticker marketplaces, and paid calling credits akin to models from LINE Corporation, digital storefronts like Apple App Store and Google Play, and advertising strategies used by Facebook and Google. Corporate ownership by Rakuten enabled integrations with services such as Rakuten Card and loyalty programs resembling collaborations between Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market. Partnerships and promotional tie-ins have mirrored commercial deals made by Samsung Electronics and Sony Music Entertainment for content distribution, and enterprise messaging offerings reflect competitive B2B plays like Twilio and Microsoft Teams.

Reception and market position

Viber has been praised and criticized in reviews from outlets like The Verge, TechCrunch, and Wired, with user base strength notable in Eastern Europe and parts of Asia similar to regional dominance by WeChat in China and LINE in Japan. Market analysts at firms such as Gartner and IDC compare its features to incumbents like WhatsApp and Telegram (software), while regulatory and privacy assessments echo those applied to Apple Inc. and Meta Platforms. Competitive pressures from consolidation events like the Meta acquisition of WhatsApp and platform shifts caused by Google and Apple policy changes continue to influence Viber's strategic positioning.

Category:Instant messaging clients