Rebtel vs Viber
May 19, 2023 | Author: Adam Levine
See also:
Top 10 VoIP services
Top 10 VoIP services
Rebtel and Viber are both communication apps that offer voice and video calling services, but they have distinct features and target different user preferences. Rebtel is known for its affordable international calling rates, making it a popular choice for users who frequently make calls to international numbers. It provides competitive pricing plans and transparent rates, allowing users to save on their international calling expenses. On the other hand, Viber is a versatile messaging and calling app that offers not only voice and video calls but also instant messaging, stickers, and multimedia sharing features. Viber focuses on providing a seamless messaging experience with a wide user base, making it suitable for users who prioritize messaging and enjoy the social aspect of communication.
See also: Top 10 VoIP services
See also: Top 10 VoIP services
Rebtel vs Viber in our news:
2022. Messaging app Viber launches Payments - a new digital wallet
Viber, the messaging app owned by the Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, is introducing Payments on Viber, a new service that enables users to establish digital wallets linked to their Viber accounts. These Payments wallets can be connected to other bank accounts, as well as Visa and Mastercard, allowing users to make bill payments, purchase goods, and transfer money to other individuals. The initial launch of this service will focus on peer-to-peer transfers, which will be free of charge. However, there may be associated fees for services like payments to businesses. The service is initially rolling out in Germany and Greece, with plans to expand across Europe and eventually to Viber's broad global presence in 180 countries, spanning this year and the next.
2020. Viber launches group video calls for 20 users
Viber introduces its latest feature, the Group Video Calls, catering to the needs of large meetings and online classes. This new functionality allows for group video calls with a maximum of 20 participants and no time limit. Viber has already gained significant popularity with its Group Audio Calls, accommodating up to 20 individuals, and group chats, supporting up to 250 people. Given the current circumstances, Viber has expanded its capabilities by incorporating video communication. During Group Video Calls, the speaker is visible to all participants; however, users have the option to pin any video to their screen, whether it's their own or another participant's. Moreover, users can mute themselves or disable their video stream, as well as determine if other participants have activated the mute or video-off settings.
2017. Viber acquired shopping keyboard startup Chatter Commerce
Earlier this year, messaging app Viber ventured into shopping services with its Instant Shopping feature, enabling users to search for items available for purchase directly within the app's interface. In a strategic move to compete with alternative platforms, Viber has recently acquired Chatter Commerce, the startup that played a significant role in developing this feature. This acquisition positions Viber to enhance its shopping capabilities. Speculations suggest that even Amazon is working on a consumer-centric messaging app. Additionally, Facebook has been expanding Messenger beyond basic chat, incorporating transactional features, bots, and other services. This highlights a notable trend among messaging apps, leveraging their existing user engagement to drive business growth through various avenues.
2017. Viber introduced secret chats with self-destructing messages
Viber has released an update for its iOS and Android versions, introducing the highly anticipated feature of "Secret Chats" to the service. Following in the footsteps of Snapchat, Facebook, Telegram, and other platforms, Viber now allows its users to set timers on their messages, resulting in self-destruction after a specified duration. Additionally, this new feature notifies the sender if the recipient takes a screenshot, a functionality initially popularized by Snapchat. Viber appears to be emphasizing its commitment to security by showcasing these features, setting itself apart from other messaging platforms. The introduction of end-to-end encryption and hidden chats last year further solidified Viber's dedication to privacy and security.
2017. Viber adds e-commerce feature
Messaging app Viber, owned by e-commerce company Rakuten, aims to capitalize on e-commerce while avoiding intrusive advertising. Viber plans to introduce a new feature where users can explore items for sale related to their current chat by tapping on a small shopping bag icon at the bottom of the screen and conducting a search. The initial launch of this feature will take place in the U.S. on March 6, with plans to expand to other markets later. Users will not be able to make purchases directly within Viber; instead, they will be redirected to the relevant page in the respective brand's app via a deeplink.
2016. Viber launched Public Accounts for businesses
Messaging app Viber is introducing Public Accounts for businesses and brands seeking to engage with Viber users for marketing purposes, customer service, or a combination of both, without the requirement of adding the account as a contact first. Users can now simply subscribe to these accounts. Additionally, by the end of November, Viber's API will be seamlessly integrated with approximately 10 to 15 popular CRM packages, enabling businesses to manage their Viber messages alongside their other social media, email, and messaging interactions. With the introduction of Public Accounts, Viber joins the ranks of other consumer-focused messaging apps such as WeChat, Line, and Facebook Messenger, all of which offer similar features.
2016. Viber adds end-to-end encryption and hidden chats
Following in the footsteps of WhatsApp, Viber, another popular messaging app, has introduced end-to-end encryption for all messages and calls on its platform, including group chats (supporting up to 200 people). Additionally, Viber now offers a feature to 'hide' chats on your account, complementing its existing expanded deleting function. These new privacy features are available across Android, iOS, PCs, and Mac desktops, and can be activated by updating to the latest app version (6.0) and reauthenticating the app via QR Code. Viber's encryption provides different levels of security, visually represented by a color-coded lock displayed on the right side of the screen.
2016. Rebtel adds unlimited international calling
VoIP provider Rebtel has introduced Rebel Calling to the United States, enabling unlimited and free app-to-app calling without the necessity of a WiFi connection. In most cases, when making international calls, individuals encounter exorbitant charges or resort to applications like WhatsApp. Without WiFi, applications such as WhatsApp or FaceTime Audio consume users' data allowances for calls. However, with Rebel, the app employs a data (or WiFi) connection to initiate an app-to-app call, which is then routed through local phone lines. This method does not utilize data and does not necessitate WiFi, allowing users to make international calls while on the move without depleting their data plan. The Rebel Calling service is currently available for over 50 countries, including the U.S., and will eventually require a $1/month fee starting in 2017.
2014. Viber adds public chats
Messaging app Viber is set to unveil a new social feature called Public Chats, which allows users to leverage its direct messaging and voice services for broadcasting to a wider audience. With Public Chats, users will have access to live conversation streams from celebrities and other interesting individuals, providing followers with the opportunity to observe the discussions without necessarily participating in them. Users will only be able to engage in Public Chats if the corresponding account is in their contacts. Currently, there is no universal option for enabling public streams, but those who believe their chats are Public Chat-worthy can contact publicchats@viber.com.
2014. Japanese internet giant acquires Viber
The Japanese company Rakuten has made a significant acquisition, securing Viber, which is currently considered one of Skype's main competitors, for a whopping $900 million. This development brings to mind the recent acquisition of fring by the American company Genband, which resulted in fring being transformed into a white-label communication platform tailored for telecom providers. However, there is no need to worry about Viber in this case. Rakuten does not intend to shut it down or reshape it according to its own business model. Instead, they plan to invest money into Viber with the hopes of competing against Skype and eventually recouping their investments, possibly through the sale of ViberOut voice call minutes. Rakuten is known for its diverse business ventures, including investments in internet startups. For instance, they own the ebook platform Kobo, have a stake in Pinterest, Play.com, and other online projects. For those unfamiliar, Viber is a cross-platform instant messenger renowned for its support of free voice and video calls. Currently, the service boasts around 300 million users.