Viber was initially launched for iPhone on 2 December 2010. It was launched on BlackBerry and Windows Phone on 8 May 2012,[70] followed by the Android platform on 19 July 2012, and Nokia's Series 40, Symbian and Samsung's Bada platform on 24 July 2012, by which time the application had 90 million users.[71][72][73]
In May 2013 with Viber 3.0, a desktop version for Windows and macOS was released.[74] In August 2013, Viber for Linux was released as a public beta[75] and in August 2014 a final version.[76] In June 2016 a UWP-based desktop application for Windows 10 was released in the Windows Store.[77] The desktop versions are tied with a user's registered Viber mobile number, but can operate independently afterwards.[78] In 2015, a version for the iPad tablet and Apple Watch smartwatch was released.[79][80]
Features
Viber was originally launched as a VoIP application for voice calling. On 31 March 2011, Viber 2.0 was released which added instant messaging (IM) capabilities.[81] In July 2012 group messaging and an HD Voice engine were added to both Android and iOS applications.[82] Today, users can send several kinds of media files including photos, videos, GIFs, files, audio messages, and stickers.[83]
Stickers
In December 2012 Viber added 'stickers' to the application. In October 2013, Viber 4.0 was announced featuring a sticker 'market' where Viber would be selling stickers as a source of revenue.[84]
Stickers
In December 2012 Viber added 'stickers' to the application. In October 2013, Viber 4.0 was announced featuring a sticker 'market' where Viber would be selling stickers as a source of revenue.[84]
Viber Out
In addition, version 4.0 introduced push-to-talk capabilities, and Viber Out, a feature that provides users the option to call mobile and landline numbers via VoIP without the need for the application.[85]
Voice support was officially added for all Windows Phone 8 devices on 2 April 2013.[86] In September 2014, Viber 5.0 was released and introduced video calling.[87]
Public Accounts, Chatbots, and Communities
In November 2016 Viber version 6.5 launched Public Accounts to allow brands to engage in promotion and customer service on the platform, with initial partners including The Huffington Post, Yandex and The Weather Channel.[49][88] The app integrates with CRM software and offers chatbot APIs for customer service.[49] Viber Communities, an enhanced group chat feature, was introduced in February 2018.[89] Group calling was introduced with version 10 in February 2019.[90] Communities have an unlimited number of participants, compared to group chats that have a maximum of 250.[91]
Viber Plus
In May 2023, Viber Plus was launched internationally, including enhancements to the app like access to paid stickers, the ability to change the Viber app icon and customer service access over live chat.[103]
In August 2023, the company released two Viber Plus features for iOS users: Invisible Mode and Read Voice Messages. Read Voice Message feature turns voice messages into text, so any message can be read anytime. Invisible Mode allows users to privately read messages and browse on the platform.[104]
Viber Payments
In April 2023, Rakuten Viber launched Viber Payments, a real-time account-to-account (A2A) money transfer service in Greece.[105] Viber Payments enables instant and free transactions between Viber users in Greece, Cyprus, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia and Germany. Viber users in these countries can send money to each other in an easy and secure manner by creating a digital wallet through a two-minute process that requires registration and email confirmation.[106]
Caller ID
In April, Rakuten added the Caller ID feature, which helps identify any call after being turned on along with a warning for possible spam, including for calls that aren't being made through Viber.[107]
Viber Business Accounts
In October 2023, Viber announced a new set of business tools for small and medium-sized businesses.[108][109] Viber Business Accounts is a platform for businesses to create public profiles, enabling them to share information and product catalogs directly within the app. Additionally, the service features a 1:1 instant messaging function for customer inquiries, discoverability through app search functions, and dedicated chat folders for organizational purposes.[110]
Viber Dating
In early 2025, "Viber Dating" popped up in the Mobile Viber client for mobile devices. It is likely made to compete with popular dating services such as Tinder.
