Currently, Viber counts about one billion installs globally, and 250 million monthly active users.
However, it could be a way for Viber to make the app more attractive for existing users, and gain new users. The idea is to offer more convenient in-chat services that can help companies grow their business.Ĭompared to its competitors, Rakuten is relatively late to the messaging payment game. WhatsApp, for example, has been working on launching a payment service in Brazil and India, Instagram has just announced a new in-chat payment feature on Instagram Direct, and other messaging services like Telegram or Signal are even rolling out first cryptocurrency payment features.Īs customers are moving from social media channels to messaging apps to talk to businesses, many messenger app providers have been adding fintech features. Rakuten’s move into the payment space of messaging app is the latest in a row of messenger services that are looking to monetize the growing usage of messaging apps around the world.
According to the company, these services will remain in place for now, but will eventually be replaced by Payments.įor the new launch, Rakuten has partnered with Rapyd, a fintech-as-a-service company, who will manage the first two launches. In some countries, such as Ukraine or Hungary, users are already able to send money transfers and use chatbot payments in the messaging app. The new Viber Payments are not the first fintech service the app offers its users. Will Payments replace other Viber finance services? However, Viber CEO Ofir Eyal, described Germany as a “strong corridor” for Viber payments to Greece. Germany, on the other hand, only counts three million Viber users, as most Germans prefer WhatsApp as a messaging service. This comes out to roughly seven million users (out of a population of 10.7 million). It’s installed on 91 percent of the country’s smartphones. In Greece, the Viber messenger app is, in fact, also very popular. However, due to the current unstable political situation, Rakuten decided to focus on other countries first. Given that Russia and Ukraine are Viber’s biggest markets, it seems surprising that Rakuten is launching the fintech service in Greece and Germany. Why will Viber Payments first launch in Greece and Germany? Payments to businesses will most likely include a fee. The peer-to-peer launch will be the first option to start, and will be free of charge. All of this will be possible directly in the app. The wallet can then be used to pay for goods, bills, and also to transfer money to other individuals. This wallet will be linked to the user’s bank account or credit cards. Payments on Viber will allow users to set up a wallet in the app. Will Payments replace other financial services in the messaging app?.Why will Viber Payments first launch in Greece and Germany?.
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