Snapchat brings its AR Lenses to Viber on Android and iOS
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Viber and Snap have teamed up to bring the latter’s new AR Lenses to the messaging platform. The partnership will integrate AR Lenses in the Viber app, enable sharing to Snapchat, as well as bring customizable Bitmoji avatars to the messaging app.
The new feature will offer Viber users AR-enabled video messaging for the first time ever. In addition to bringing AR Lenses to its app, Viber also launched 30 new lenses, including animal masks and characters, an underwater lens, goofy cat interactions, and more.
At least 20 additional lenses are supposed to be launched every quarter, while businesses will get the chance to create their own exclusive lenses on Viber. Speaking of businesses, Viber has already revealed that FC Barcelona, the World Wildlife Federation, and the World Health Organization will be among its first partners to offer new lenses on the messaging app.
The adoption of Snap’s Camera Kit, Bitmoji, and Creative Kit will allow Viber to add new features to its messaging app, including instant AR (augmented reality), new filters, expressive masks, beautification features, and customized Bitmoji.
Viber also plans to offer sponsored and branded lenses to ensure a stable revenue stream. According to Viber, the new features are now available for iOS users in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Maldives, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA.
The AR Lenses are only available on the beta version of Viber for Android, but the company promised to make these new features available to all Android users by the end of August. The same goes for Viber users in countries other than those mentioned above.
Questions & Answers
Q.Which specific Snap features are being integrated into the Viber messaging app?
Which specific Snap features are being integrated into the Viber messaging app?
Viber is adopting Snap’s Camera Kit, Bitmoji, and Creative Kit. This will allow them to add instant AR, new filters, expressive masks, beautification features, and customized Bitmoji to their app.
Q.What is Viber's strategy for generating revenue from these new AR features?
What is Viber's strategy for generating revenue from these new AR features?
Viber plans to offer sponsored and branded lenses to businesses and organisations. This approach is intended to ensure a stable revenue stream for the messaging platform moving forward.
Q.When can Android users and users in other countries expect to access the new AR Lenses?
When can Android users and users in other countries expect to access the new AR Lenses?
The AR Lenses are currently in beta for Android users, but Viber aims to make them available to all Android users by the end of August. Users in countries not listed will also get access by then.
Q.Which major organisations are partnering with Viber to offer new lenses initially?
Which major organisations are partnering with Viber to offer new lenses initially?
FC Barcelona, the World Wildlife Federation, and the World Health Organization have already been revealed as some of Viber's first partners. They will offer new exclusive lenses on the messaging app.
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