With competition in the messaging and VoIP arena becoming stiffer, Viber has launched an iOS app update that delivers a new look and some unique new features that should give it a renewed sense of maturity. The company believes that the new design, mainly for iPhones, but also available on iPad and iPod Touch, will help give version 4.2 the continued edge in user experience.
Users are able to send messages of greater length through the app and can send to friends and contacts multiple images at one time, including with videos.
A neat new feature is that app has added a "block list" mode that allows users to put numbers they want blocked from being allowed to contact them. Although this had been available on Android apps for a while now, it is the first time that Viber has done so with iOS.
The company seems pretty pleased with the update. And it is available now.
Viber CEO Talmon Marco says that the iOS app "has been redesigned from the start for simplicity and ease of use."
The idea was to move from what many analysts had said was an outdated and almost archaic feel to the look of the app into something more modern and crisp.
"Taking our cue from the clean, flat look of iOS 7, we wanted Viber to feel like a completely seamless part of your device. Our top priority is the enthusiastic community of users who rely on Viber every day to communicate with their friends, family, and important contacts. The new iPhone version we released today will make it easier and more fun than ever before to stay connected," Marco said.
Another important addition is that users can now witness and see if the person they are corresponding with is currently typing, an option that had been available as well on Android apps and had been needed to maintain the company in what users' are expecting with similar apps.
Viber currently has around 100 million users and was only recently acquired by Rakuten for $900 million. The move has enabled the company to work toward this update and plans to continue to boost its app friendliness and overall user experience as it attempts to maintain its market share.
Video messaging and image sending has become an afterthought in smartphone technology and this update should help Viber maintain its solid showing with the iPhone and its VoIP messaging app.
