Should Microsoft's Skype Be Scared of Viber?
As a complementary service, messaging promises to be a major competitive battleground going forward. That's why Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion. Google may be about to unify its messaging services, Apple has iMessage and FaceTime, while Facebook is also beefing up its mobile messaging prowess.
One of the smaller up-and-comers is Viber, which offers a cross-platform messaging service that includes free video calling. Viber just announced that it was launching a desktop client, which will compete directly with Skype. At the same time, Viber disclosed that it's now up to 200 million active users, compared to the 300 million that Skype currently has.
In the video below, Fool contributor Evan Niu, CFA, discusses the mobile messaging landscape and why Microsoft may be safe for a little while.
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The article Should Microsoft's Skype Be Scared of Viber? originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Evan Niu, CFA, owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, Facebook, and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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