Viber, one of the most popular free messaging apps in the country with more than 13 million Philippine-based users, announced on Thursday, Sept. 11, the release of its updated 5.0 version for Android and iOS, as well as new enhancements for desktops on Windows, Windows 8 and OS X.
In a statement, Viber said its 5.0 update is designed to deliver “some powerful new features and enhancements, including the ability to make video calls from your phone for free.”
“Every Filipino can now send the good vibes face-to-face with loved ones, as catching up with friends and family is just a video call away. Great things can happen as students can now video chat with each other, while officemates can simply conduct their videoconference on Viber. With video calls, celebrities and businesses can also communicate and spend time with their fans more closely,” the company said.
Viber chief executive officer Talmon Marco said: ?We?re delighted to bring video calling to mobile. Now that you can make video calls from your phone as well as on your PC and Mac, you can always talk in the way that?s most convenient for you, wherever you happen to be.?
Viber 5.0 also added a new feature that includes an easier way to manage contacts by adding a Viber number or scanning a special QR code with OS specific enhancements.
For iOS users, sticker packs can be managed easier where sticker packs can be turned on or off and reordered. Enhancements for forwarding photo messages were also included in the iOs update. For Android users, a redesigned interface is implemented.
For desktop Windows, Windows 8 and OS X users, the new version 4.3 now includes a new and improved design, more backgrounds gallery, various improvements and bug fixes.
In version 3.2 for Windows 8, the snap mode with stickers feature is updated with new emoticons and notifications. Some enhancements include searching contacts feature that allows users to see online contacts from the home screen. PNG image format photo messages is now supported in the update.
