The messaging app market is dominated by WhatsApp, but other platforms such as Telegram, Viber, Snapchat, and Skype also compete for the remaining share.
To expand their profit margins and increase user adoption, these apps must take market share from their direct competitors. For this reason, following an unofficial report about WhatsApp developing video calls (which would create direct competition with platforms like Viber and Skype), Viber decided to launch Wink—a feature for quick-disappearing messages, challenging Snapchat.
Viber boasts over 664 million users, offering them free calls, HD video calls, messaging, photo sharing, and group chats via Wi-Fi or 3G.
How does it work? Simply download the app and ensure that your contacts do the same. But this, of course, isn’t new.
The latest innovation is found in version 5.7.0., which introduces an extension: Viber Wink.
Within the attachment tab, a new icon appears for sending photo and video content to Viber contacts, which automatically disappears after a preset time limit once viewed by the recipient. Users can opt out of the time limit to prevent content from self-destructing.
Other updates in this version include more detailed information in group chats, such as knowing which participants have read a message, an improved sharing menu, and a refreshed introductory screen design.
The update is available for free on both the Play Store and the Apple Store.
