Free call and messaging service Viber has launched a new desktop client for Windows and Mac OS X allowing seamless integration between mobile and desktop users.
With more than 200 million users on board, Viber plans to compete with Skype, announcing its desktop client that runs alongside mobile versions and use your mobile phone numbers to complete the setup process.
“People spend a substantial amount of time on their smartphones,” Viber CEO Talmon Marco said in a statement. “However, a lot of that usage takes place at home or in the office, where they have laptops or desktops close by. With Viber Desktop you always get to use the most convenient device. You can seamlessly switch devices while messaging and even transfer calls between your mobile and desktop.”
Built from ground up, the desktop version comes with some of the features that are already existent in Viber’s mobile version.
In a market saturated with so many VoIP services, including Skype, Viber made a wise move to boost features like one-click seamless call transfer between its desktop and mobile version. Once activated, all phone contacts will automatically be sync from your mobile to your desktop version and the two versions will serve as an extensions to each other.
Additionally, all messages will be shown on all devices, but notifications will be only be pushed to the device in use. However, once deleted from one device, conversations will be purged from all devices.
“On top of this, Viber Desktop is Viber’s first application to offer video calls,” the company’s release said. “With this new beta feature, users can now make desktop-to-desktop video calls to other Viber users.”
Viber’s desktop release is part of the roll out of Viber 3.0, which includes major updates to the Android and iOS apps, as well as a new version for BlackBerry
