Viber brings augmented reality lenses to its messaging platform

Rakuten Viber, a global leader in cross-platform messaging and voice-based communication, will bring the magic of augmented reality (AR) lenses to its app through a partnership with Snap Inc. Using Snap’s developer tools including Camera Kit, Creative Kit, and Bitmoji, the Viber app will integrate AR Lenses, enable sharing to Snapchat, and bring customizable Bitmoji avatars to Viber.

Viber Lenses Powered by Snap will offer AR-enabled video messaging and photos to Viber users for the first time. The launch includes 30 new Viber Lenses, including animal masks and Viber Characters, an underwater Lens, silly cat interactions, and more.

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New Viber features include:

●  Instant Augmented Reality: Overlay images on top of surroundings and harness the power of AR at your fingertips

●  Attention-Grabbing Filters: Add a creative layer to your visuals and spark conversations with friends

●  Expressive Masks: Select from a variety of masks that accurately follow users’ facial movements

●  Beautification Features: Enhance your images with realistic touches like lipstick, blush, and a variety of hair colors

●  Customized Bitmoji: Integrate personalized Bitmoji characters into photos and videos

Viber is one of the world’s leading calling and messaging apps that connects people and allows them to express themselves creatively—no matter who or where they are. Personal and group chats on Viber are end-to-end encrypted, so users can be sure that their communications are always private and secure.

Viber Lenses are an uplifting addition to the app’s existing sticker collections, which allow users to express themselves visually while chatting away. And the adoption of Snap’s Camera Kit, Bitmoji, and Creative Kit by Viber are additional ways for Viber to bring people closer together and make those connections even more meaningful and enjoyable.

The company plans to add between 50-70 additional Lenses per month, amounting to at least 300 Lenses by the end of 2021, and businesses will have the opportunity to create their own exclusive Lenses on Viber. The World Wildlife Fund, FC Barcelona, and the World Health Organization are among the first Viber partners to offer new Lenses on the messaging app. The customized Lenses will boost engagement between users and the brands they love on the Viber platform, while the ability to offer sponsored and branded Lenses will provide an additional revenue stream to Viber.

“Snap’s partnership with Rakuten Viber is a win-win situation for us both,” says Elliot Solomon, director, Camera Platform Partnerships at Snap Inc. “It will help us expand our Augmented Reality technology into regions where Viber already has a solid footprint, and help Viber’s users express themselves through AR on the Viber platform.” 

“We’re excited to bring the Snap camera to Viber users,” says Djamel Agaoua, CEO of Rakuten Viber. “Through this partnership, we want to empower the creativity of our users with AR, and we’re looking forward to inspiring new fun-filled ways for people to keep in touch with their friends and family members. Viber is more than a messaging app. It not only connects people with each other, it is also a place where users can create entertaining, exciting, and rewarding content to share with their communities.”

The iOS version on the app with these new features, as well as the Android beta version in English language, will be available starting June 30 in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Maldives, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA. Viber will progressively roll out the features to additional regions, including the Philippines, and to all Android users in the coming months.