We just received a tip that Viber is secretly working on a mobile payments system to be released in the Philippines in a couple of weeks. We're not yet sure what will they call it but our bet is on Viber Pay. The payment system will allow Viber users to send virtual money to each other and perhaps also pay for services and online shopping. It's also possible Viber is targeting the over 12 million Filipinos abroad that sends over $25 billion in annual remittances. Since majority of the active Viber users are ones abroad communicating with relatives in the Philippines, they have a captured market. Globe GCash is said to be the platform that will power Viber Pay. Being the biggest online messaging app in the Philippines (Viber has 35% share followed by WeChat at 30% and Line at 20%, story here), Viber is poised to make a significant push in mobile commerce in the country. Popular free messaging app for Android and iOS, Viber, just got updated to version 5.0 and now offers more features and enhancements, including support for video calls. Read more in our articles including "Viber to launch mobile payments in the Philippines" and "Viber 5.0 rolls out, now supports video calling".
We just received a tip that Viber is secretly working on a mobile payments system to be released in the Philippines in a couple of weeks. We're not yet sure what will they call it but our bet is on Viber Pay.
The payment system will allow Viber users to send virtual money to each other and perhaps also pay for services and online shopping. It's also possible Viber is targeting the over 12 million Filipinos abroad that sends over $25 billion in annual remittances. Since majority of the active Viber users are ones abroad communicating with relatives in the Philippines, they have a captured market.
Our coverage of viber wallet includes: "Viber to launch mobile payments in the Philippines"; "Viber 5.0 rolls out, now supports video calling"; "Picking the Right Messaging App to Use". Each article provides unique insights and information.