Viber, the cross-platform messaging application, updated its iOS and Android apps with a slew of new features. Most important, the company introduced a video-calling feature, bringing it more in line with the desktop version of the app. The new move makes Viber better equipped to challenge the Microsoft-backed Skype messenger. It allows users to place free video calls to other Viber users anywhere in the world.
The introduction of video calling in Viber mobile apps helps users transfer calls between mobiles and desktops, the app's change-log on Play Store and iTunes reads. Now the service offers free communications via voice, text and video, no matter which platform. The app's cross-platform functionality enables exchanging video calls between Android and iOS, as well as PC users.
Viber also made some individual improvements to Android and iOS apps. The Android version 5.0 brings a new design and support for new languages, including Bulgarian, Persian and Serbian. Viber 5.0 for iOS devices features improvements to forwarding photo and video messages with easy managing of sticker packs.
Both mobile apps feature QR scanning for quickly adding contacts. Viber is available across all platforms, including Windows Phone and BlackBerry, but it is unclear when the new features will make their way to other platforms.
Japanese e-commerce site Rakuten acquired Viber for $900 million earlier this year when the service had 300 million monthly active users. The company recently updated the statistics to 400 million users.
Viber is available for free download from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
