Users should ask themselves why the other companies were not shut down." I do believe people should take notice of the fact that the Saudi government has threatened three companies with shutdown of service – us, Skype and Whatsapp. We never provided anybody with anything that will let them listen to conversations or messages on Viber. "We have been asked if we would co-operate. The messages are encrypted, and Marco says he has never handed the encryption key to any government. Around 80% are deleted in less than a second. Messages are stored, for two weeks or until they are opened by the recipient, whichever is shorter. He says Viber does not "have the capability to listen to conversations". Viber's policy is that if it receives a proper subpoena, it will provide records of who made and received calls, and when, but that no content from those conversations will be shared. Marco says he is serious about the right to communicate, and the ability to do so in privacy.
Once the technology is rolled out, we will likely roll it out to Vodafone UK users as well." At present we have several thousand users in Saudi Arabia that can access Viber despite the local ban. "This version allows users to connect in places where Viber is blocked. "A few days ago we launched a test of Viber with enhanced connectivity," says Marco. They are also relied on by the nation's many foreign workers as a cheap way to keep in touch with families abroad. Social networks have allowed unprecedented freedom to communicate in Saudi Arabia, propelling a steep adoption curve. Marco says the ban was introduced after Saudi officials indicated to Skype, Viber and the popular messaging service Whatsapp that they would be blocked if they did not agree to be monitored. Iran, Syria and Lebanon have all lifted previous blocks on Viber, but the service was recently barred by the Saudi Arabian authorities.
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Mobile operators have previously voiced concerns about free calls and messaging apps as a threat to their own revenues.Īnd there has been government opposition.
During its rapid expansion, Viber has occasionally met resistance from both mobile networks and some of the more authoritarian states.įor some time, many Vodafone customers have been unable to use Viber without disruption, particularly those on pay-as-you-go tariffs, says Marco. The second development, which is already being tested in Saudi Arabia, is technology that can stop Viber being blocked. The first thing we are going to announce is a sticker store, but we will be introducing additional paid services as early as this year." "We announced earlier this year that we will start monetising. But in order to transform itself into a real business, Viber must search for revenues. The app and all its current services, including calls between Viber users, will remain free. While this may not sound momentous, it represents the company's first foray into money making. Speaking from Singapore, Marco is busy preparing the next two important milestones. Downloads onto personal computers are already in the millions. Having begun life three years ago in the Israeli iPhone app store, before going international and onto other mobile platforms including Android, Blackberry and Windows, Viber took the fight to Skype's home turf by launching a desktop version in May. "It will not be available by default with the next release of Viber," he says.
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