Japan’s Rakuten has announced that they are purchasing Skype rival Viber in a deal which is worth $900 million US dollars.
Viber has become increasingly popular and now has more than 300 million users. Its user base grew by 120 percent in 2013, showcasing its rapid adoption and the growing demand for versatile communication platforms.
Rakuten Chairman and CEO, Hiroshi Mikitani, commented:
“I am tremendously excited to welcome Viber to the Rakuten family. Viber delivers the most consistently high quality and convenient messaging and VoIP experience available. Additionally, Viber has introduced a great sticker market and has tremendous potential as a gaming platform. Simply put, Viber understands how people actually want to engage and have built the only service that truly delivers on all fronts. This makes Viber the ideal total consumer engagement platform for Rakuten as we seek to bring our deep understanding of the consumer to vast new audiences through our dynamic ecosystem of Internet Services.”
Viber’s Unique Features and Market Position
Viber stands out in the crowded messaging app market due to its unique features and user-friendly interface. Unlike many of its competitors, Viber offers a seamless integration of messaging and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services. This allows users to make high-quality voice and video calls, send text messages, share multimedia files, and even engage in group chats, all within a single app.
One of Viber’s most popular features is its sticker market, which allows users to express themselves creatively through a wide range of stickers and emojis. This feature has not only enhanced user engagement but also opened up new revenue streams for the company. Additionally, Viber has ventured into the gaming sector, offering a variety of games that users can play within the app. This diversification has helped Viber attract a broader audience and increase user retention.
Rakuten’s Strategic Vision
Rakuten’s acquisition of Viber aligns with its broader strategy to expand its ecosystem of Internet services. Rakuten, often referred to as the “Amazon of Japan,” has a diverse portfolio that includes e-commerce, digital content, fintech, and communications services. By integrating Viber into its ecosystem, Rakuten aims to enhance its consumer engagement capabilities and offer a more comprehensive suite of services to its global user base.
Hiroshi Mikitani’s vision for Viber goes beyond just messaging and VoIP services. He sees Viber as a platform with immense potential for growth in various sectors, including e-commerce and digital content. For instance, Viber’s large user base and high engagement levels make it an ideal platform for targeted advertising and promotional campaigns. Moreover, the integration of Viber’s services with Rakuten’s e-commerce platform could offer users a more seamless shopping experience, from discovering products to making purchases and receiving customer support.
The acquisition also positions Rakuten to compete more effectively with other global tech giants. With Viber under its umbrella, Rakuten can leverage the app’s extensive user data to gain insights into consumer behavior and preferences. This data can be used to refine Rakuten’s existing services and develop new offerings that cater to the evolving needs of its users.
You can find out more information about the purchase of Viber by Rakuten at the link below.
Source Business Wire
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