Breaking news Viber to launch new feature for low-cost calls, to compete with Skype

Business & Markets 2013
Written by Surin Murugiah of theedgemalaysia.com
Saturday, 07 December 2013 15:36
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KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 7): Mobile messaging and VoIP company Viber
is set to go head –to-head with Skype with a new feature that would
allow users to make low-cost calls to any mobile or landline phone
number.
Industry sources familiar with the development said Viber is set to unveil
its new service next week, at a substantially lower rate than that offered
by Skype via its Skype Out feature.
Viber is preparing to announce release of Viber 4.1 for Android and
iPhone that includes the full global launch of Viber Out feature, they told
theedgemalaysia.com.
They said the service provider had previously enabled Viber Out for
users in the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan to help users
contact friends and loved ones.
In order to provide the free calls from the Philippines for free, Viber
partnered with telcos across the world including Telecom Austria,
Telecom New Zealand, Hutchison, Bharti Airtel, Telecom Italia, Citic,
Netvision Cellcom, Mada Communication and Omantel, they said.
They added that Viber also partnered with Globe Telecom to allow
users worldwide to call the Philippines for free.
The sources said now with the official worldwide launch, Viber Out
enables all Viber users to call anyone worldwide at low rates on
Android, iPhone and Desktop, coming to Windows Phone in the future.
Additionally, Viber Out has a significantly lower price-per-call than other
competing services due to lower per minute rates and the omission of
connection fees, they said.
The industry sources said Viber’s new service would be cheaper
between 31% and 198% compared to Skype Out costs.