“People spend a substantial amount of time on their smartphones.“However, a lot of that usage takes place at home or in the office, where they have laptops or desktops close by. You can seamlessly switch devices while messaging and even transfer calls between your mobile and desktop.” With Viber Desktop you always get to use the most convenient device. The launch of the desktop apps is not the only product-related announcement Viber is making today, however, as it is also rolling out Viber 3.0, a major update to both the Android and iOS versions of the communications service, and a new app for BlackBerry that ensures voice calling as well as compatibility with Viber Desktop. Also available is Viber 3.0 for Android and iOS.In addition, Viber’s Android application now features a completely redesigned “Holo” interface and a number of other, Android-specific optimizations. PCs require Windows XP SP3 or later, while the Mac build requires OS X 10.7 (Lion) or later. Viber for Desktop 3.99 is available now as a freeware download for PC and Macs with dual-core processors and 1GB RAM. However, with over 200 million users worldwide, it won’t be going anywhere any time soon. Viber may initially struggle to compete with more established services such as Skype, particularly if users struggle to persuade their contacts to switch or try the new service. Other new features include new stickers, support for transferring live calls between desktop and mobile, and improved voice engine promising better quality on all networks. While direct video conferencing isn’t yet available to mobile users, brand new versions of Viber 3.0 for iOS and Android have introduced video messaging capabilities, which work in a similar way to the video message feature recently added to Skype. It’s also unique in providing video call capabilities using a compatible webcam - at the present time this feature is in beta, and restricted to desktop-to-desktop calls only. The desktop application functions in a similar way to the mobile app, albeit with an extended screen and interface. This connection extends to the syncing of messages between mobile and desktop apps. A confirmation SMS is sent to the user’s phone, and then the desktop app is enabled as an extension of the mobile service, allowing users to seamlessly switch devices during calls and chats. This functionality is mirrored in the new desktop version - users must have first configured and registered the app using their mobile phone, then use this to log into the desktop version. The advantage of this approach is that finding other Viber users is simple - by granting the mobile app access to the phone’s address book, it can automatically detect other Viber users and make them immediately visible via the app’s Contacts screen. Viber users must install the mobile app first and register their mobile number, which is used to identify them on the Viber network. However, there are key differences, particularly in the sign up and registration process. It’s hard not to draw comparisons between Viber and other similar VOiP services, in particular Skype. The new desktop build provides all the functionality currently enjoyed on the mobile app, including free voice calls, photo messaging, text chat and location-sharing with other Viber users, but also adds support for desktop-to-desktop video conferencing too.
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