The hugely popular cross platform messaging application Viber has sold for a whopping US$900 Million. With 225 Million users worldwide, the purchase (undoubtedly in large part for the userbase) makes users worth about US$4 each to the purchasing company, Japanese internet giant Rakuten.
Viber is possibly the most genuine cross platform application of its type, supporting Android, Android Tablet, iOS, Blackberry, Nokia (Symbian), Windows and Mac OS clients with persistent notifications across all of the above listed platforms for a single login. While all major messaging platforms have their pitfalls, the only other competitors that have this wide a reach are Google Hangouts and QQ, an application not widely known outside Asian markets, that has a staggering 800 million + active users each month.
The 900 million dollar deal is set to go through it’s final steps in early March and give Ratuken an even further reach than they currently have. The purchase fits in well with their current and very public aspirations to become one of the worlds biggest online retailers.
Are you a Viber user or do you have another platform you prefer for instant messaging?
I use one called Line that my friends back in asia use.
I used to use Viber, often, but a lot of the time I found it unreliable, messages often not going through.
In the early days you’re right, they now show you on screen when your message has been delivered, also when the other person has seen it
Good to know.
Hi there! Are you still having issues? Do you use WiFi or 3G? Where are you from?
I’m from Australia. I don’t use viber anymore. But I’m willing to give it another chance. I use both wifi and 3G
I use Viber to chat with my wife who is in overseas…. It’s because i can call and text her anytime on Viber, it’s free and easy….
I have similar uses, but because I have a lot of family on Viber it’s very convenient for me to message them from my PC during the day.