Viber launches ‘public chats’

MANILA, Philippines — Mobile communications app Viber has launched a new feature that allows users to eavesdrop on the conversations of select celebrities and groups through “public chats.”

In a press interview on Wednesday, Viber CEO Talmon Marco dubbed their new offering as a “fascinating social experiment.”

“It’s much more interesting to follow a chat than listen to a speech. It’s very interesting and up close,” Marco said.

Through the service, users can follow chats of their favorite Viber users, be it a personality, a brand, or an organization. Users, however, can not chime in on a public chat, though they can “like” messages. Viber users can follow as many public chats as they want. For now, the feature is limited to mobile users, though Marco said they will also roll it out to their desktop version soon.

“The release of Public Chats on Viber allows people to interact in a new way, listening in on live discussions and staying up-to-date with exclusive content from the people and subjects that matter to them most,” Marco said.

The company has enlisted a host of both global and local celebrities as Public Chat accounts.

source: interaksyon.com

Saudi ban affected 10 million users; Viber eyeing a workaround

MANILA, Philippines — Popular instant messaging application Viber said it is coming up with a workaround to circumvent the restrictions imposed by the Saudi Arabian government on its service last month.

Talmon Marco, Viber chief executive, revealed that they are working around the clock to “circumvent the restrictions” and make the chat and calling application available again to users in Saudi Arabia as he expressed frustration regarding the situation.

“We’re frustrated, we have 10 million users or so in Saudi Arabia,” Marco said during a press conference announcing the partnership between the Cyprus-based technology startup and local operator Globe Telecom. “They are taking advantage of a vulnerability in Google Play to block Viber download in most Android phones.”

It will be remembered that Viber was recently banned by Saudi Arabia’s telecom regulator for not adhering to the agency’s strict but vague regulations, and for competing with duly licensed telecom companies.

A good number of Overseas Filipino Workers vented disappointment with the ban, saying Viber was one of their limited ways to keep in touch with relatives back in the Philippines.

Marco said usage of the app dropped considerably in Saudi Arabia following the ban, but has not affected usage in the Philippines as much.

To go around the restriction, the Viber top executive said users are sideloading the app to their phones and using an encrypted connection to continue using the app.

“We are very close to solving this on iOS,” Marco added, without giving any specifics. Unlike Android, Apple apps could only be downloaded and installed through the dedicated app store.

He did not disclose if they are negotiating with the Saudi Arabian regulator to lift the ban, or if they are working with the government to meet its demands in order for the application to be available again in the Middle Eastern country.

But he stressed that their company slogan, “Connect. Freely.” stands as more than just a marketing statement to promote their free services.

“It means users can communicate with friends and relatives free of charge, but it also means that they are able to connect with their loved ones without restrictions,” Marco explained.

“And what the Saudi government has done … it’s a sad day for the people of Saudi Arabia,” he added.

Marco is in the Philippines to promote a new partnership with Globe Telecom that would allow Viber users in the Philippines to use the service free of charge when they subscribe to the telco’s Unli25 unlimited call and text service for one day.

The operator has also launched Viber-only plans, where subscribers can use the app on an unlimited basis for just P10 a day or P30 for five days.

The executive said this is their way of saying that it is time to upgrade voice and SMS, an old telco service which has changed very little since being launched more than two decades ago.

Currently, Marco disclosed, the service has about 6.1 million users in the Philippines and has been growing steadily despite competition from other Asian-based messaging services.

source: interaksyon.com