Rakuten Viber is diversifying into the world of digital payments with a mobile wallet available via the Viber app. Viber users will be able to send money to one another quickly and create a digital wallet to hold money, starting with euros, with the help of this new feature. Multiple currencies will subsequently be included, and there will also be additional services soon.
With hundreds of millions of users worldwide and a solid reputation for security built on its own by-default end-to-end encryption for private chats, it joins the global digital payments sector. Viber payments will launch in Germany and Greece first, and then expand to more nations soon. Viber occupies its place on 91% of smartphones in Greece and was recognized as one of the most secure messaging apps by Stiftung Warentest of Germany.
Ofir Eyal, CEO, Rakuten Viber, stated, “Rakuten Viber is already one of the world’s top messengers, and with FinTech capabilities, Viber will extend its utility and value to make it an absolutely essential app for its hundreds of millions of users. User-friendly payment features will allow users to effortlessly connect, engage, and transact inside and across borders without ever leaving their preferred messaging platform. Viber’s world-class security and privacy protection, joined with the high standards of premium payment service partners, like Rapyd, creates a simple and secure app-based alternative for conducting personal and business transactions.”
When the digital wallet launches in Germany and Greece, money can be added to it using any Mastercard or Visa card as well as local banks. Rapyd, a leading global provider of FinTech-as-a-Service (FaaS), has collaborated with Viber to offer licenced payment services in the first two markets. To power the in-app payments features, Rapyd will immediately integrate its authorised payment processing services within the Viber app.
Arik Shtilman, CEO, Rapyd, commented, “We’re thrilled that Rapyd will serve as the licensed cross-border payments solution powering this historic milestone for Rakuten Viber: becoming one of the world’s first messaging platforms to offer secure in-app payments to its global user base. At Rapyd, we build the payments technology that removes the back-end complexities of cross-border commerce and payments. Through this partnership, the combined power of Viber and Rapyd’s leading security and seamless embedded payments capabilities means millions of users can feel confident conducting their financial transactions via a single messaging app.”
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