Rakuten buys Viber for USD 900 mln

News Wireless Global 14 FEB 2014
Rakuten buys Viber for USD 900 mln
Japanese e-commerce group Rakuten has agreed to buy the mobile messaging service Viber for USD 900 million. Rakuten said the deal supports its expansion in the digital content space, following its acquisitions of Kobo, Wuaki.tv and Viki. Viber's messaging and VoIP services can be offered to the some 225 million customers of Rakuten's other web services, joining its 'Super Points' rewards programmes. Rakuten said it also sees potential to expand Viber's stickers platform and develop it as a gaming service, similar to the rival Japanese messaging service Line. Viber has over 300 million registered users worldwide, after growing over 120 percent in 2013.

Categories:

Mobile

Companies:

Rakuten Mobile,  Viber,  Kobo

Regions:

Global

Tags:

Unified communications, Messaging, IT - applications, M&A buyouts & divestments

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