February 17, 2023
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4min

 



 

 

Viber’s AI Chat & Create chatbot allows users to ask questions, and design images directly through the Viber app; powered by DALL-E and Davinci’s AI generators

Colombo, 17th February 2023Rakuten Viber, the global leader in private and secure messaging and voice-based communication, launches a new chatbot, AI Chat & Create, providing users easy access to AI text and image generators. By integrating advanced models of generative AI, such as DALL-E and Davinci, the Viber app now allows users to ask the chatbot any question or test the chatbot’s creativity by designing unique images.

To utilize the latest AI tools taking the world by storm, consumers had to set up a new account for each AI service they wanted to try. Oftentimes, the consumer needs to be tech-savvy with a basic understanding of how AI works. With an influx of interest in AI, Viber’s goal is to make AI more accessible, and easy to employ for its users. Viber acts as the interface between the complex technology and the user, allowing everyone to take part in the fun without having to provide access to their email or create a separate account for each service. With just a few taps, users can transition between chatting with friends to using the bot, sharing their art, or answer a question effortlessly.

“Excitement about generative AI technology currently has many of the tech industry’s attention and every day more and more people are exposed to the wonders that can be achieved with this technology. However, access to some of these tools is not very simple for everyone and now, we are offering the easiest way to try out various AI services in the comfort of a Viber chat, inside the app, without the need to register to a special service or further hassle and completely free,” says Ofir Eyal, CEO of Rakuten Viber. “We provide access to these industry-leading AI tools directly on the app and users can quickly share their creations or answers. Right now, the chatbot offers two options – one for images and one for text – and we’re looking continuously to expand the offering in the near future.”

Due to organic growth, the chatbot already has over 6,000 subscribers, over 250 K viewers, and is growing constantly. If you don’t know where to start, click ‘Inspire Me’ for the chatbot to share an example of its capabilities.

The AI Chat & Create chatbot can be found by searching in the chat function of the Viber app or on its explore page. From there, users can subscribe to the chatbot and will have unlimited access to the AI technology right at their fingertips. Try it for yourself here: https://vb.me/8ab600

 



 

 


November 18, 2022
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5min

 



 

 

Viber celebrates football by getting its users into the competitive spirit with fun and interactive features, including a game prediction and leaderboard chatbot, gamified football AR Lenses, and stickers

Colombo, November 18, 2022 – Rakuten Viber, a global leader in private and secure messaging and voice-based communication, announces the launch of interactive and gamified football-related features, including a chatbot, AR Lenses, a sticker pack, and international and  national sports media Channels to follow the latest news in international football competitions. The new features will kick off in November and be available for two months.

Football is the most popular sport globally with billions of fans spreading over 200 countries. In celebration of the sport and its ability to bring countries together from every corner of the world, Viber has launched a campaign enabling its users to follow along and engage with all the football news.

Viber’s 2022 global football campaign will help its millions of app users celebrate the sport with match predictions chatbot to inspire friendly competitions within private or group chats.  To follow alongside their favorite team, users’ predictions can be posted on the global leaderboard for a chance to win exciting prizes.

Additional features include:

• AR Lenses: Viber will launch two AR Lenses for when teams score, themed frames with footballs, and more.

● Gamified Lenses: There will also be two gamified Lenses that enable users to try to score a goal or see how many times the user can head the ball.

● Stickers: The new sticker pack will feature football-related images and lingo in English, as well as in 18 additional languages.

● Channels: Nine sports media Channels will ensure fans stay up to date with the latest stories and breaking news about their home teams.

“With so many passionate football fans around the world, and with Viber’s global audience, we wanted to enable our users to get involved and stay connected to one another. We are excited to offer many different rewards and interactive content to our users,” says Atanas Raykov, Senior Director Growth Top Markets of Rakuten Viber. “Our users can celebrate their home football team’s wins alongside their friends, family, and colleagues. Sharing your predictions, finding out the score of the latest game, or checking the global leaderboard will be as easy as opening the Viber app.”

Links to access the campaign’s assets:

● Chatbot: https://viber.com/footballworld2022

● Sticker pack: https://stickers.viber.com/pages/football_world_2022_en

● Lenses

● Football Challenge: https://lenses.viber.com/e5b3f985-1335-4f36-b5ac-5d6ac6d74e0c/e98d07c5-91f0-460d-bd2a-f2f7196b0ba6

● Cheering goals: https://lenses.viber.com/e5b3f985-1335-4f36-b5ac-5d6ac6d74e0c/c2123494-3e5a-4ad4-aab6-0ab0836bda65

● Football elements: https://lenses.viber.com/cf02d6a7-b991-47cf-8707-8712bf93c42b/c07a765d-a2ed-4b01-abfe-94e5cc99896c

● National sports media channel: https://invite.viber.com/?g2=AQA2p2pgeLSkBVAE4UB%2Bf4pj3H%2FaTuTdkXplz9PIzGubNRYOz4kLNgyMusHgljeU&lang=en

 

 



 

 


October 17, 2022
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4min

 



 

 

Rakuten Viber launches a Cricket World Cup campaign for the second straight year—bringing fans a month-long celebration filled with fun games and exciting prizes in the new Cricket Superbot, and more.

14th October 2022: Rakuten Viber has been consistent in supporting the Cricket industry for the past two years. But now, they’re ready to double down Cricket Fiesta and make it even more fun for the fans. As part of the campaign, the messaging app launches its much-awaited Cricket Superbot, along with a slate of interactive games. The new Superbot is an automated feature that will be a part of the Cricket Vibes Channel where fans can join in on the games, enjoy live updates, match predictions, and more.

One of the contests that fans can look forward to is Prediction, where they can guess how the entire game will go — from the first toss to team scores and match winner. The top 3 fans from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and India with the highest accumulated scores by the end of the tournament will win exciting rewards from Viber.

Users can join in on the fun, win and redeem vouchers daily on the Cricket Vibes Channel.

They can also play virtual Cricket Games and score runs from the comfort of their own homes. For the entire duration of the Cricket World Cup, they can feel like their favorite cricketers and hit a ball via the Cricket Superbot—just as they would in an actual match.

“We had such great success in our first Cricket Fiesta that doubling down this second year was an easy decision. Last year’s events were received by fans with great enthusiasm, so we’ve decided to make things bigger and better this year with the Cricket Superbot. It’s a great addition to our already stellar line-up of events and we look forward to celebrating this exciting tournament with the Cricket Channel this year, and hopefully, in the years to come.”, says David Tse, Senior Director for APAC at Rakuten Viber.

Other features and events included in Viber’s Cricket World Cup 2022 campaign include custom Lenses, sticker packs, Cricket Fixtures in the Cricket Vibes Channel, and Cricket Talks. Fans can enjoy Cricket Superbot now and continue to do so throughout this year’s tournament.

 



 

 

 


September 5, 2022
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4min

 



 

 

Cricket fans can expect a full roster of activities from Rakuten Viber in the following months like the Cricket Asia Cup Quiz, Cricket Vibes Channel takeovers, special Cricket Talks episodes, and the launch of the much-awaited Cricket Superbot!

05th September 2022: Rakuten Viber continues to give Cricket fans a one-of-a-kind experience with a lineup of fun activities until the end of the year. As the messaging app solidifies its mark in Sri Lanka’s favorite sport with the Cricket Vibes Channel, Viber is also slated to have more episodes of Cricket Talks, engaging fan quizzes, and the launch of Cricket Superbot. The new Superbot is an automated feature that will soon be added to the Channel where fans can enjoy Cricket Fixtures, which gives members a first look at upcoming cricket games, live updates, match predictions, and more.

To keep the excitement going, Viber will also have a daily competition to determine the ultimate cricket fan of them all. Fans can earn and accumulate points by answering Cricket trivia questions correctly and win exciting prizes!

This is not the first time that the free communication app launched multiple campaigns to support the sport cricket in Sri Lanka—always putting the fans at the center of it all. Earlier this year, lucky cricket fans got to watch a live stadium match between Sri Lanka and Australia. “Our previous cricket campaigns were successful and that inspires us to continue giving fans exciting activities and features through collaborations like this. Seeing how they react and support their teams and favorite players not only proves how dedicated they are to the sport but also proves how passionate the Sri Lanka people are. It’s things like that which keep us motivated to innovate and introduce more sticker packs, lenses, special Channel segments, and more. To witness this fanbase grow is beautiful and we are honored to be a part of it.”, says David Tse, Senior Director for APAC at Rakuten Viber.

With the anticipation of Cricket Asia and the upcoming World Cup in the air, Viber continues to go the extra mile by collaborating with more local Sri Lankan businesses like Cricwire and Mirror Sports. Just like the instant messaging app, these names continue to raise the bar in giving their consumers the best experience. And what better way to show their unified enthusiasm for sports than with a jam-packed celebration of the Asia Cup? One of which is by having experts take over the Cricket Vibes Channel to discuss predictions and post-game results and performances. On August 20, 2022, fan-favorite Sri Lankan cricketer, Farveez Maharoof and Bangladeshi sports journalist, Ariful Roney sat down with cricketer, Taskin Ahmed for an exclusive episode of Cricket Talks. Channel members can also expect left-handed batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa and former cricketer Lasith Malinga to guest star on upcoming episodes of the Channel segment soon.

Fans can now join the Cricket Vibes Channel and Cricket Superbot to see daily updates, exclusive content, and more.

 



 

 

 


June 10, 2022
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5min

 



 

 

 

Discover the excitement of community gaming via private lobbies and play hypercasual games in the world’s leading messaging app

Rakuten Viber, in partnership with Mineski Global, brings hypercasual gaming to a whole new level as it introduces exciting and easy-to-play games on the world’s leading messaging app.

Starting June 2022, Viber users across the Asia Pacific will have free and easy access to up to 70 hypercasual games via the mgames chatbot on Viber, with new games to be introduced every month. mgames is a casual gaming platform created by Mineski Global, offering an extensive library of games that are easy to play, and are lightweight in terms of game mechanics and design.

“We are excited about our collaboration with Mineski Global in integrating mobile games into our platform for different segments of users,” says David Tse, Senior Director at Rakuten Viber. “We are not just launching games in Viber, we are building a community of hypercasual gamers, giving our users another way of interaction and communication through the fun of games.”

With a wide variety of options, there’s definitely a game for all kinds and ages of Viber users – from incredible word masters and thrill-seeking adrenaline junkies to fantastic puzzle solvers and competitive racers, or even just happy-go-lucky screen tappers. These interactive hypercasual games allow Viber users to compete for rewards and leaderboards and play with their Viber network. Users can also create their own private lobbies and have a fun time with their friends and family on Viber.

“The social aspect of gaming is often overlooked, but we believe that it creates one of the strongest reward loops that incentivize consumer behavior. For instance, mgames on Viber has private lobbies so users can host friendly competitions with their family and friends. This and other features are novelties that will make your messaging app experience more dynamic,” says Ronald Robins, Mineski’s Chief Executive Officer.

During the mgames chatbot on Viber media launch held on June 8th in Mandaluyong City, members of the Philippine media and some content creators experienced the fun of community gaming as they competed for exciting prizes. Members of the media from Nepal and Bangladesh also hopped in on the fun virtually. Some of the games played in private lobbies at the event were: Tako Block, an exhilarating endless block-stacking game where players need to build Tako Blocks to squeeze through or go over obstacles; Whack A Mole, which allowed players to relive their amusement park experience through this timeless fun and fast-paced game, and;  Furious Speed, a thrilling car-chasing game for that added boost of adrenaline rush.

“Our partnership with Viber is a testament to our commitment to creating rewarding experiences through gamification. This integration is reminiscent of Mineski’s early days of building communities through a common love for gaming, and now we are proud to deliver this promise to the larger and more diverse casual gaming audience that only Viber can aggregate,” says Ronald Robins, Mineski’s Chief Executive Officer.

Start playing on Viber now and create private lobbies to share the fun with your friends and family. To know more about mgames on Viber, visit www.viber.com and www.mineskiglobal.com/mgames or follow Rakuten Viber and Mineski Global on social media.

 



 

 

 

 


February 14, 2022
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4min

 



 

 

 

In time for Valentine’s Day, Rakuten Viber launches Vibe with Confidence campaign, new AR Lenses, and partners up with the Human Improvement Project to provide a relationship chatbot

 Colombo : February 2022Rakuten Viber, a global leader in private and secure messaging and voice-based communication, is launching a Valentine’s Day campaign with interactive relationship-related features for its users. Features include fun Valentine’s Day AR Lenses and a chatbot offering happiness tips and a relationship quiz, all of which are being rolled out throughout February in tandem with the company’s new “Vibe with Confidence” campaign.

As part of its Valentine’s Day offerings, Rakuten Viber has partnered up with Human Improvement Project, a non-profit research institution with years of findings in psychology, neuroscience, and relationships. Together, they are curating a chatbot called Happiness Tips that will offer a relationship quiz, videos, and tips.

Viber is also launching new Valentine’s Day AR Lenses that will be available for the entire month of February. The campaign includes thirteen new lenses, featuring heart eyeglasses, a cupid costume, photobooth stripes, and more. The themed Viber Lenses will also be made available on Snapchat, as well as on the Viber platform. In addition, Viber has added its 44th language – Belarusian – making it easier for more people to say “I love you” in their native language.

Rakuten Viber is committed to helping people around the world to connect with confidence and build loving, lasting relationships, no matter where they are. Viber’s messaging platform enables users to connect with one another and express themselves throughout the month of love. The company’s “Vibe with Confidence” campaign will bring people closer together, allowing users to express themselves to a significant other through the sound of their voice or instant video messages. Viber’s extensive list of privacy features, like end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, and hidden chats give its users ultimate privacy when exchanging personal messages.

“Valentine’s Day is all about connecting with one another and taking the time to show you care, and sometimes that has to be through a messaging app,” says Noya Pollack, Sr. Director of Marketing for Rakuten Viber. “After a turbulent few years due to the pandemic, with many families and partners unable to see each other in person, we wanted to allow Viber users a platform to share their love in the most personal way possible. That’s why our video messaging and voice memo features are so important.”

 



 

 

 


January 27, 2022
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5min

 



 

 

 

Reviewing security features of online platforms becomes more important than ever

The world has become increasingly digital, yet it’s ironic how most of us still give little thought to data privacy and how exactly our private information can be put at risk. Most might not be able to sort out which types of private and sensitive information that they need to guard to prevent identity theft, financial loss, reputational damage, and mental health issues. When it comes to children, inappropriate content, prying ads, and even unwitting exposure to strangers also pose damaging threats. Clearly, there is much room for everyone to grow in and learn more when it comes to data privacy.

To create awareness about the importance of respecting privacy, safeguarding data, and enabling trust, Viber joins the rest of the world in marking Data Privacy Day, an international effort that takes place annually on January 28. Because privacy is a guiding principle for Viber, the leading communications app wants to put emphasis on another aspect that data privacy impacts – the young learners.

The shift to online learning has ignited privacy concerns for students. With the COVID-19 outbreak necessitating the decision to move classes to digital platforms, pre-existing and fresh privacy issues have also emerged about the technology facilitating virtual education. As E-learning becomes more accessible than ever thanks to technological advancements as well as increasing internet reach, digital learners remain vulnerable to online privacy risks.

Now that the mad rush to get the transition off the ground has eased and as academic institutions and students settle into year 3 of online schooling, Viber believes there is an opportunity to direct more attention and evaluate how student privacy can be preserved and protected in the current e-learning reality.

“With more students getting online for their daily learning and even communication with their teachers, data privacy is paramount to both the students and their parents. And Viber’s commitment to championing privacy and our values to the education ecosystem remains a key focus for us in Sri Lanka” says David Tse, Rakuten Viber Senior Director for APAC.

Among the privacy problems that come with online education are the collection and possible use of students’ personal information, and using products and platforms that are not really designed for children. These platforms can potentially lack children’s privacy standards, and collect data on students as they would an adult consumer, which can then be used for commercial, for-profit purposes.

Students’ profiles collected during exchanges that are supposed to be educational can be used for behavioral or targeted advertising and are also making them more vulnerable to the same threats adult consumers face—identity theft, reputational damage, mental health issues, and more.

“There needs to be some kind of hindsight from this experience, a review on the current processes and rising concerns, and a way to move forward that puts less risks on young online learners,” adds Tse. “We see how due diligence plays a critical part in choosing online learning tools, from communication platforms to educational materials.”

There is indeed a great opportunity for academic institutions and teachers to work hand in hand with parents or guardians in creating an accessible online space where students can grow, learn, and thrive—all without compromising their data privacy and safety.

 



 

 


January 3, 2022
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4min

 



 

 

Rakuten Viber joins hands with SLT-MOBITEL Mobile to offer “Viber Free” data packages that help users stay connected, no matter where they are. This joint endeavour will enable SLT-MOBITEL Mobile subscribers to enjoy unlimited data when using Viber across popular data plans.

Both Mobitel Pre-Paid and Post-Paid subscribers can now get access to unlimited Viber data to enjoy unparalleled features such as free VoIP calls, group video chats, communities, utilities chatbots, and fun stickers on Viber’s messaging platform that offer enhanced security to preserve user data privacy. Pre-Paid customers with Anytime plans ranging from Rs. 399, Rs.499, Rs.699, Rs.999, and Rs.1999 are eligible for this offer and Post-Paid customers with Anytime plans ranging Rs.1290, Rs.1690, Rs.2090, Rs.2990 and Rs.3890 can enjoy the free Viber offer.

“We are delighted to partner with Viber to offer our valued customers a unique experience by delivering value beyond the standard packages in the market today. The tie up will cater to the surge in usage of instant messaging across Sri Lankans while keeping in mind customer data security,” said Shashika Senarath, CMO at Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd.  Stating further, Shashika stressed that, “This long-term partnership with Rakuten Viber allows us to bring our collective resources, expertise, and integrate them in a way that offers users a secure and enhanced user experience.”

As migration to digital technologies continues to be driven by the pandemic, it’s important for service providers to accelerate their digital capabilities to keep pace and offer services that are in line with the changing customer demands.

We have a diverse user base and it has always been our aim to help them stay connected, no matter who they are or where they’re from,” said David Tse, Rakuten Viber Senior Director for APAC. “We see great synergy between Viber’s and SLT-MOBITEL’s customer-centric approach and such partners will allow us to continue to scale and offer our users in Sri Lanka with great choice of data plans to enjoy our full suite of messaging features and utilities.”

 Rakuten Viber’s partnership with SLT-MOBITEL Mobile is yet another initiative by the popular messaging platform that continues to reinvent its service offerings for an enriched user experience.

Users may subscribe to the service via the SLT-MOBITEL Mobile SelfCare app, DataMart app, topping up or by visiting the nearest communication outlet. More information can be obtained about the “Unlimited Free” data packages by visiting the SLT-MOBITEL website via https://www.mobitel.lk/freeviber

 



 

 


November 22, 2021
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5min

 




 

 

Veteran Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga partners with Rakuten Viber to launch his first official community on Viber. His fans can now experience his iconic style through AR-powered Lenses and his popular cricket lingo through custom sticker packs.

Cricket fans can rejoice as Rakuten Viber partners with Sri Lankan cricket legend Lasith Malinga to deliver a cricket experience like no other through a range of exciting features and activities for fans worldwide. The partnership aims to combine all of the most loved features of the popular messaging platform into one explosive cricket experience featuring the veteran fast bowler.

Malinga, also known as “Slinga Malinga” for his unorthodox bowling action and toe-crushing yorkers, made his international debut in 2004 and stands as the third-highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in ODI history, scalping 338 wickets. He is also known as one of the greatest bowlers to have ever played in the Indian Premier League, where he picked up 120 wickets in 122 matches he played for Mumbai Indians making him the highest wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League tournament history.

Viber cricket fans can look forward to custom sticker packs featuring Malinga and an official Community to engage with him, share comments, and be a part of his daily life. The Viber-Malinga partnership will also include Viber’s most recent feature, custom AR-powered Lens on Malinga. The excitement-packed cricket affair doesn’t end there. Fans will also be able to engage with the legendary fast-bowler through the Viber Cricket Talks Community during the World Cup, where ten super lucky fans who share a message for him using the custom Malinga Lenses will have the unparalleled opportunity to get on a video call with the legendary cricketer!

And to make the experience even more special on Viber, fans will even stand a chance to win personalized jerseys signed by Malinga when they participate in daily quizzes and trivia contests exclusively on his official Community.

“I’m really pumped to partner with Viber to create a special experience for my fans. This will be a great platform for me to connect with all my fans and loved ones. I will be sharing a lot of pictures, videos in my Community. And there’s a lot of fun to come for my fans. So keep following!” said Malinga when speaking about his partnership with Viber.

“We thought this would be a great opportunity to celebrate and share in the joy Malinga has brought for his fans during his career,” said David Tse, Senior Director of Rakuten Viber. He added, “we’re always working towards leveraging our digital technology to enable users discover newer aspects of entertainment. And we’re really honored to partner with Malinga to allow cricket fans to enjoy a total-cricketing experience on Viber.”

Viber has continued to raise the bar in terms of user experience for its subscribers, especially cricket enthusiasts, throughout the years. Users have embraced features like “Cricket Talks Community,” AR-powered lenses, and more with sheer excitement. And as Viber continues to innovate, create, and evolve, it leaves no doubt as to why the messaging platform has seen an incredible surge in its growth.

Join in the unlimited fun with Slinga-Malinga on Viber to celebrate the joy of cricket and recapture the magic of one of the most veteran and famous fast bowlers in the cricketing fraternity.

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



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Lanka Business News is amongst the leading online Business News portals in Sri Lanka, unique for its focus on contemporary business news relevant across multiple industries operating in the country. We present not only the news, but a perspective based on observations and possible implications of a prevailing news item. LBN also provides an insight to the impact of a global economic or industrial development, thus helping stakeholders make informed and calculated decisions.




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