Viber to launch payment service

New Rakuten Viber Chief Executive Officer Ofir Eyal is bringing the popular communications app to the fintech category as it is determined to offer users more than its core messaging and calling features, a critical move to fulfil its vision of becoming a super app.

Viber is set to roll out the in-app payments service, allowing users to create a digital wallet within the platform. Payments wallets can be linked to bank accounts as well as Visa and Mastercard to transfer money to other individuals, buy products, and pay for bills, Viber said in a statement.

Viber will first introduce peer-to-peer transfers, which will be available to users for free. The service will be available in Germany and Greece later this summer. During the first period, Viber will gather user feedback necessary to further improve the product before launching in additional markets.

"In my role as CEO, I am honoured to lead and be part of a highly-driven team in Rakuten Viber as we pursue the company’s vision and mission in the face of impending challenges,” said Ofir Eyal.

“In addition, we would like to keep Viber's high standards and innovative spirit when it comes to operating and enhancing the app to improve the user experience and ultimately, become a super app. I will always appreciate and be grateful to employees who are part of the journey to make Viber become what it is today," he added.

As in other countries, Viber is considered as one of the most trusted and preferred messaging apps in Bangladesh. Apart from the usual practice of Viber in empowering businesses through its core features and developing new ones such as channels, it also aims to entertain its users by supporting their current interests and passion.

Viber recently launched mGames chatbot with over 70 hypercasual games, a capability to create a private lobby to compete with friends, and rank the highest against anyone who plays via the leaderboard. It was recently launched in Bangladesh and other countries in the region. In addition to that, cricket enthusiasts of Bangladesh could get Cricket updates from Cricket Vibes Channel with a following of over 800K members.