Rakuten Viber announces Viber Plus premium service with exclusive features and customizations
Viber’s new monthly subscription service offers a premium messaging experience with zero ads, live chat support, unlimited stickers and more exciting features coming soon
SAN FRANCISCO. May 2023 - Rakuten Viber, the global leader in private and secure messaging and voice-based communication, is launching Viber Plus, a monthly subscription service offering premium features. All of Viber’s standard features remain free to use for all users worldwide.
Viber currently provides a full suite of features protecting users with extensive controls and preferences. The Viber Plus subscription service will further enhance the Viber experience by giving subscribers the option to opt out of ads.
For just $1.99 a month, Viber Plus subscribers will see no ads in Viber’s messaging platform and enjoy exclusive features such as multiple app icon styles, personalized 1-on-1 support, and unlimited stickers with many more enhancements coming soon.
In the last year alone, users in Central and Eastern Europe sent 3.06 billion stickers, many of which were paid purchases of themed packs. Stickers continue to be a popular way for Viber users worldwide to express themselves and enliven their chats
Viber Plus features available at launch will include:
No ads: Use the Viber app without seeing any ads
Unlimited stickers: Download sticker packs for free
Unique app icons: Change the mobile or desktop Viber app icon to a unique icon such as unicorn, night, or sparkle-themed
Live support: Initiate live support chats with just one click at any time of day
Verification Badge: Verification badge exclusive to subscribers
Other features coming soon:
Voice to Text: Transcribe received voice messages into text
Invisible Mode: Browse privately reading messages and seeing who’s online without them knowing
To try out the new service, users who have access can opt-in by clicking ‘More’ in the bottom right corner of the app. All features available prior to this update, including text messaging and calling, remain completely free-to-use. Viber Plus provides an additional offering to users while creating an additional stream of revenue for the company.
“We are always brainstorming new features to make our users’ experience simpler and more fun,” says Ofir Eyal, CEO of Rakuten Viber. “Viber Plus will allow Viber to provide a superior user experience and give our members an early look at exciting new features. This is just the start for Viber Plus.”
The premium service is currently available in the Czech Republic, Montenegro (iOS only), Switzerland, Kuwait, Australia, Tuvalu, Israel, Sweden, Austria, India, and Italy with additional regions added on a rolling basis.
About Rakuten Viber
Rakuten Viber connects people. No matter who they are or where they are from. The global user base has access to a range of features like one-on-one chats, video calls, group messaging, and updates and discussions with their favorite brands and celebrities. Rakuten Viber ensures users have a secure and free environment to share their emotions. Rakuten Viber is part of Rakuten Group, Inc., a world leader in e-commerce and financial services.
Leadership
Ofir Eyal, the CEO of Rakuten Viber, is a Viber veteran as he first joined the company in 2014 as the Vice President of Product before being promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2019. Prior to joining Viber, Ofir previously held the position of Product Manager at Citi Innovation Lab, where he worked on Citibank’s flagship mobile trading app for its institutional customers worldwide. In his previous roles at Viber, Ofir focused on user experience, customer success, content, and localization. As CEO, Ofir leads Rakuten Viber’s ambitious campaign of product development and discovers new markets and business opportunities as the company further establishes itself as a major, innovative player in the global messaging market.
