"Sharing similar aspirations with Rakuten, our vision is to be the world's number one communications platform and our combination with Rakuten is an important step in that direction." Viber's chief executive and founder, Talmon Marco, said: "This combination presents an amazing opportunity for Viber to enhance our rapid user growth in both existing and new markets. "This acquisition is a totally new strategy that will take Rakuten to a different level," said Rakuten's chief executive Hiroshi Mikitani.
Viber, which is based in Cyprus, has 300 million registered users. Rakuten, which also owns the Canadian e-reader Kobo, said the purchase would allow it to expand its digital content into emerging markets. The Japanese company will pay $900m (£540m) for the mobile application, which offers free calls and text messages from a mobile phone. " border="0" align="left" class="photo" hspace="10" style="float:left "/> Messaging app Viber has been bought by Rakuten, the owner of online retailer. The Broadband Asia conference is taking place on the 29th-30th April 2014 at the Suntec, Singapore. This makes Viber the ideal total consumer engagement platform for Rakuten as we seek to bring our deep understanding of the consumer to vast new audiences through our dynamic ecosystem of internet services.” Simply put, Viber understands how people actually want to engage and have built the only service that truly delivers on all fronts. Rakuten Chairman and CEO, Hiroshi Mikitani, said: “Viber has introduced a great sticker market and has tremendous potential as a gaming platform. Viber counts a global user base of 300 million registered users, which will add to Rakuten Group’s roughly 225 million global members. With around 40 services to its name already, Rakuten has bold ambitions and seeks to “become the world’s No.1 Internet services company.” The company also owns the Kobo ereader, and online video services and Viki. Japanese conglomerate Rakuten, owner of online retailer, has acquired popular over the top messaging and VoIP developer Viber for $900m.
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