Viber (software)

Viber (software)
Name	Viber
Developer	Rakuten
Released	2010
Operating system	Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux
Language	Multilingual
License	Proprietary

Viber (software) is a cross-platform proprietary instant messaging and Voice over IP application developed by Viber Media and later acquired by Rakuten. Launched in 2010, the application enables text messaging, voice calls, video calls, and multimedia sharing across mobile and desktop environments. It competed in markets alongside WhatsApp, Telegram (software), Skype, and WeChat while integrating stickers, public chats, and business-facing services used by organizations such as Nissan, Coca-Cola, and Airbnb.

History

Viber was created by developers with prior affiliations to ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger, and iMesh as part of a wave of VoIP and messaging services that included Fring, Vonage, and Skype. Early growth milestones were reported during the 2010–2013 period when Viber expanded through user acquisition similar to WhatsApp Messenger and underwent fundraising and platform expansions akin to Facebook Messenger and LINE (software). In 2014, Viber was acquired by Japanese conglomerate Rakuten for approximately $900 million, a move comparable to Amazon (company) acquisitions in the technology sector. Subsequent corporate initiatives mirrored strategies seen at Twitter, Google and Tencent Holdings, focusing on stickers, monetization, and enterprise features.

Features

Viber offers text chat, group messaging, voice calls, video calls, and multimedia attachments similar to functionality in FaceTime, Signal (software), and Skype. It supports end-to-end encryption options that echo practices at WhatsApp, Signal Foundation, and Wire (software), while providing stickers and in-app purchases comparable to LINE Corporation and KakaoTalk. Additional capabilities include public chat channels and communities reflecting concepts used by Slack Technologies, Discord, and Telegram (software), as well as business messaging tools akin to offerings from Twilio and Zendesk. Integration features allow content sharing with platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and Dropbox.

Platforms and Availability

Viber is available on mobile platforms including Android (operating system), iOS, and legacy platforms such as BlackBerry and Windows Phone during their market presence. Desktop clients run on Microsoft Windows, macOS, and various Linux distributions, following cross-platform strategies similar to WhatsApp Web and Telegram Desktop. Regional availability has varied with presence in markets dominated by LINE (software) in Japan, WeChat in China, and KakaoTalk in South Korea, with specific deployment and marketing efforts targeting countries like Ukraine, Israel, Russia, Philippines, and India.

Security and Privacy

Viber implemented a form of end-to-end encryption and security features inspired by protocols used by Signal (software) and cryptographic work by researchers associated with Open Whisper Systems. Its encryption practices have been contrasted with models from Telegram (software), WhatsApp, and enterprise solutions such as Cisco Systems. Security audits and responses to vulnerabilities have paralleled incidents experienced by Facebook, Apple Inc., and Microsoft in mobile messaging. Privacy policies and data handling were scrutinized in contexts similar to investigations involving Cambridge Analytica, European Commission data rulings, and General Data Protection Regulation enforcement trends.

Business Model and Monetization

Viber's revenue strategies included in-app purchases, sticker markets, and business messaging services resembling monetization approaches used by LINE Corporation, Tencent, and WeChat Pay ecosystems. Corporate partnerships, sponsored public chats, and commerce integrations paralleled activities by Google, Facebook, and Amazon (company) in leveraging messaging platforms for advertising and transactions. Viber also explored paid features and enterprise APIs similar to products offered by Twilio, Vonage, and IBM for customer engagement and support.

Reception and Usage

User reception tracked regional adoption patterns comparable to those of WhatsApp, Telegram (software), WeChat, and LINE (software), with popularity spikes in Eastern Europe, parts of Asia, and the Middle East. Technology press coverage and reviews compared Viber’s feature set to Skype, FaceTime, and WhatsApp Messenger, while industry analysts from firms like Gartner and Forrester Research assessed its market position. App store ratings and download metrics put it among notable messaging apps listed alongside Messenger (software), Kik Messenger, and Signal (software).

Legal Issues and Controversies

Viber faced legal and regulatory scrutiny similar to disputes encountered by WhatsApp, Telegram (software), and Apple Inc. regarding user data access, law enforcement requests, and compliance with national regulations in jurisdictions such as Russia, India, and members of the European Union. Litigation over intellectual property and patents mirrored cases involving telecommunications companies like Nokia, Ericsson, and BlackBerry Limited. Public controversies about content moderation and encryption were discussed in forums alongside debates involving Facebook, Twitter, and Google.

Technical Architecture and Protocols

The application's architecture uses client-server and peer-assisted models reflecting designs employed by Skype, Signal (software), and WhatsApp. Protocol elements for message transport and encryption draw on standards and implementations comparable to XMPP, proprietary VoIP stacks found in Vonage products, and cryptographic libraries similar to those used by OpenSSL and libsodium. Cross-platform synchronization and notification integration align with services from Google Cloud Messaging (now Firebase), Apple Push Notification Service, and desktop integration patterns observable in Electron (software) and native client frameworks.

Category:Instant messaging clients Category:Voice over IP