Globes 11-9-2012

Free calls co Viber reaches 100m users
Viber also launched its first version for Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 operating system.
11 September 12 15:50, Tzahi Hoffman and Globes’ correspondent

Free calls and SMS application developer Viber Media Inc. has reached 100 million users, and the company today announced the launch of new versions for S40 and Symbian operating systems for Nokia Corporation (NYSE; LSE; HEX: NOK) mobile phones, and the Bada operating system for many Samsung phones.

Viber also launched its first version for Microsoft Corporation’s (Nasdaq: MSFT) Windows Phone 7 operating system. The new application for Windows Phone can also handle calls, in addition to text messages, which existed in the earlier version. The new version jointly developed with Nokia is designed for its Lumia smartphones.

Viber CEO Talmon Marco and Igor Magazinik founded the company in 2010. It is based in Israel, and it has a development center in the Belarus capital of Minsk.

Marco said, “We are committed to our users and to our mission – to let people all over the world connect freely. By adding the S40, Symbian and Bada platforms to our list of supported mobile OSs, we are expanding the community of individuals who can communicate for free, no matter what platform they use.”

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news – www.globes-online.com – on September 11, 2012