Rakuten Viber, a global leader in cross-platform messaging and voice-based communication, will bring Augmented Reality (AR) Lenses to its application through a partnership with Snap Inc.
Viber will soon launch its new lens features in Bangladesh to cater to the growing number of users in the country, said a press release.
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 photo and video messaging to Viber users for the first time. The launch includes 30 new Viber Lenses, and the company plans to add 50 to 70 additional Lenses per month, amounting to at least 300 Lenses by the end of 2021.
Viber Lenses are an elevating addition to the app’s existing sticker collections, which allow users to express themselves visually while chatting. Users can now select from various masks that accurately follow facial movements through the Expressive Masks feature, and enhance images using the Beautification features.
Additionally, the new range of features includes attention-grabbing filters that add a creative layer to visuals. Users can also use the customized Bitmoji feature to integrate personalized Bitmoji characters into photos and videos.
The new features are designed to support the company’s commitment to simplify usability and ensure data privacy. Personal and group chats on Viber are end-to-end encrypted, so users can be sure that their communications are always private and secure.
Businesses will also 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 partners to offer new Lenses on Viber.
Elliot Solomon, director of camera platform partnerships, Snap Inc., said, “Snap’s partnership with Rakuten Viber is a win-win situation for us both. It will help us to expand our Augmented Reality technology into regions where Viber already has a solid footprint, and help their users to express themselves through AR on the Viber platform.”
Djamel Agaoua, CEO, Rakuten Viber, added, “We’re excited to bring the Snap camera to Viber users. 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, but it is also a place where users can create entertaining, exciting, and rewarding content to share with their communities.”
The iOS version of the app with these new features, as well as the Android beta version in the English language, is available from June 30, 2021, in most countries where Viber operates.
