Viber adds video telephony to Android, iOS apps

Viber has updated its apps for Android and iOS to let users make video calls.

Now users can make video calls from their phones as WELL as PCs and Macs, the company said on Thursday. Viber already lets phone users make free calls and send text, voice and video messages to other users.

The video calls will work on most devices RUNNING Android 4.0 and up or iOS 6 or later. In both cases users can transfer the calls between mobiles and desktops.

The company has made it easier to add contacts using QR codes in Viber 5.0, and redesigned the Android version. The company has also updated the design of its desktop versions for Windows and Mac OS X.

Viber didn’t offer any details on when it would offer video calls for Windows Phone and BlackBerry 10, platforms for which the company also offers apps.

Last month, Viber launched an updated Windows Phone app, which lets users send instant voice messages and offers faster conversation loading and other enhancements, it said at the time.

Viber was acquired by Rakuten of Japan for $900 million last February. It claims 608 million registered users.

Web-based messaging and telephony has become an important app and services arena, highlighted by Facebook’s US$19 billion deal to acquire WhatsApp.