Viber was founded in 2010 by Talmon Marco and Igor Megzinik as a messaging and VoIP app that allows free calls and texts between Viber users. It launched initially for iPhone in 2010 and later expanded to Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone. In 2014, Viber was acquired by Rakuten for $900 million. Rakuten has since valued Viber's easy setup, free international calling, and lack of ads as keys to its success against competitors like WhatsApp, WeChat, Skype, and Line in reaching its goal of billions of users.

1. by Evan Hsu

2. What Do They Do?
• Messaging and VoIP
• Calls and Texts to Viber Users
for Free
• ViberOut: Low Rate Calling

3. Company History
• Founded in 2010 by: Talmon Marco, Igor
Megzinik
• December 2010 - Initial launch for iPhone
• May 2011 - Android pre-release appeared
• May 2012 - Blackberry & Windows Phone launch
• Feb. 2014 - acquired by Rakuten for $900 million

4. Financial Information
• No revenue initially
• Revenue source: Sticker Market & Viber Out
• Viber bought by Rakuten for $900M
• Rakuten valued at $17.96B
• Rakuten generated $5.1B in revenue

5. What’s Hot?
• Viber Sticker Market
• 90% of stickers are free

6. Secret Sauce
• Easy setup
• Free VoIP calls (including internationally)
• No Ads

7. What’s Interesting?
Cyprus
Israel
China
Belarus
Talmon & Igor

8. Competition
• Initially Competing with Skype
• Asian Competition: WeChat &
Line
• Other Competitor: WhatsApp

9. Prediction
• WhatsApp, WeChat, Line & more…
• Previously lost e-reader battle to Kindle
“The goal is to reach one billion, two billion users,
not to stop yet,”
-Mikitani, Rakuten CEO

10. Q&A