Viber has just released version 2.2 of the app for both Android and iPhone, bringing some much-requested features to the platform for the very first time including group messaging and improved call quality. The UI has also been significantly improved, which should please Viber’s growing user base.
In May, we learned that Viber had surpassed 70 million registered users. Today they’ve topped 90 million users and have taken the number of text messages sent from 1 billion to 2 billion per month.
But let’s not get distracted — back to the update.
Group messages show every member of the group’s thumbnail below the message preview, with the latest sender having the large profile pic on the left. Inside messages, you’ll actually be able to choose a fun background rather than the usual white. You can also use messaging in landscape.
More importantly, a new smart notifications feature has been added to make sure you aren’t bombarded with alerts, and a system has been implemented to speed up the process of kicking off a group message. Users will also be able share their name and photo.
Viber recently released their beta apps for BlackBerry and Windows Phone, and the group messaging features will carry over in an update to Viber for BlackBerry. The Android version will be getting nine additional languages including Arabic, Chinese (simplified and traditional), French, German, Hebrew, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
To get hooked up with Viber, head on over to the website and install the app.