Do people love texting more than speaking?

Rakuten Viber is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, and we get this question a lot – do people really love texting more than speaking? A short answer to this question is “It depends”. There are many circumstances and situations when communication in person or over the phone is an absolute necessity, and it can’t be replaced by texting.

But messaging has made its way into our smartphones for good. For more than a decade now, most smartphone users have been choosing messaging over calls. It’s a convenient, less intrusive, efficient way to communicate that has the ability to get a voluminous point across in a clear, structured way. Texting changes the way we communicate, enhances the variety of mediums available to express thoughts and feelings, and introduces new tools to make our day-to-day conversations as frequent and productive as possible.

There is a lot of research out there showing how messaging platforms are the future of communication. And it’s not just for person-to-person communication – brands can now also create an entire experience through messaging: building awareness, driving conversions, providing support, answering questions, and so on is now possible through an app like Rakuten Viber. This creates a customized approach for each buyer and can help increase response and conversion rates, providing a better experience for both sides – a company and a customer. In fact, according to Zipwhip State of Texting report, 58% of consumers believe messaging is the fastest way to communicate with brands.

There are a few reasons for messaging popularity

First, messaging apps are incredibly convenient. They are easy to set up; just tie your phone number to an account, and you’re good to go. You can have one-on-one conversations with people or group chats with your friends, or engage in discussion with a business or a brand. 

Second, there are so many things you can share in a messaging app – photos, videos, and other ways to express experiences and enrich your interactions. And, with some applications, you can send pre-recorded voice and video messages. Chatting often adds extra fun and appeals to interactions with others. Emojis, GIFs, stickers, and other media are fun and not available in the spoken language. You can also converse with friends in group discussions – no one ever gets interrupted before finishing their story, and both extroverts and introverts get the spotlight.

Third, these apps are especially useful for people who are on the go or have limited time. You can have conversations while multitasking and can respond when you have the time.

Fourth, texting apps are less intimidating than phone calls. They give us time to think about what we want to say before sending it, and we don’t have to worry about being judged by the other person. You can also choose to end the conversation at any time without offending anyone. To hang up on someone abruptly is a very emotionally charged action, whereas just quitting the chat until you have more resources to continue the dialogue is a calmer way to go about it.

Fifth, most messaging apps offer privacy that other platforms don't always provide. When using Rakuten Viber, you can be sure that the conversations between you and the person you're talking to are private and encrypted. 

Finally, there is a reason why some messaging apps are now called Superapps. They have evolved to offer users a wide range of features, including the ability to order food, book a taxi, or buy products, all within the same app. 

The pace and noise of a digital age 

In today’s fast-paced world, messaging apps have become an integral part of our lives. From staying in touch with friends and family to being able to communicate with businesses, there is no limit to what messaging can do. We are always on the move, rushing from home to work, from work to run other errands, and constantly getting new information from different sources. We need a quick and easy path to sort and digest it when we have time and focus. Messaging apps provide just that. You can control your stream of interaction by turning the notifications on and off, singling out chats you want active during a particular time of the day, and group conversations into folders so that work doesn’t mix up with family and friends.
Today, 75% of millennials (anyone born between 1981 and 1996) would rather text than call. But every other generation also tends to control their environment more strictly in 2023 and finds chatting a more acceptable way to communicate that doesn’t interfere with their privacy.

About Rakuten Viber

Rakuten Viber is one of the most popular communication apps on the market today. Some of the features that make Rakuten Viber stand out include its end-to-end encryption, which ensures that your messages are always private; its group chats feature lets you keep in touch with friends and family; and its rich media support, which allows you to share high-quality photos, videos, and even play games with your friends. Rakuten Viber also offers a variety of stickers and emojis to help you express yourself, and its high-quality voice and video calling features give you tools to make your stories more exciting and expressive. Rakuten Viber is free for its users on all platforms.

Here are just a few of the features that have contributed to Rakuten Viber’s quality of use in the last decade:

• End-to-end encryption – the security of Rakuten Viber is ensured by end-to-end encryption. Only the sender and receiver can read messages; no one else, not even Rakuten Viber, can access them. The important thing is that end-to-end encryption in Rakuten Viber is set by default which helps to protect even not tech savvy users. For brand-user communications, the app uses encryption in transition which provides the highest level of security for businesses.
• Rakuten Viber Out allows users to call non-Rakuten Viber users straight from the application, using in-app credit.
• Local content allows users to get news from trusted sources, interact with local influencers and brands, and enjoy stickers and lenses created based on local insights.
• Rakuten Viber has a built-in translator, which makes it possible to communicate with people who speak different languages.

Rakuten Viber for Business

People want to be able to connect with companies in an easy and convenient way, the same way they interact with friends and family. Rakuten Viber for Business provides just that – a powerful marketing tool that can assist brands in connecting with their audience in a more personal and interactive way at each step of the customer journey. 

Here are just some of the reasons why so many companies around the world have chosen Rakuten Viber to connect with their customers:

• Rakuten Viber Business Messages are one of the most powerful marketing tools that can help brands connect with customers on a deeper level, increase conversions, and build trust and loyalty. You can use a variety of Business Messages types, such as Transactional, Promotional, and Conversational to connect with you client database.
• Rakuten Viber Chatbots allow 24/7 support and are much more efficient than phone or email. They can answer common questions, and can also handle more complicated issues. It’s a win-win. The customer gets quick and easy access to information and help, and the brand gets to reduce costs and provide a better service.
• Rakuten Viber Advertising Solutions – Rakuten Viber offers a suite of advertising solutions that can meet even the most demanding business needs. From native, non-intrusive ads, to  display ads with video options, Rakuten Viber has something for everyone. With Advertising solutions, you can get your message in front of your target audience cost-effectively and efficiently.
• Rakuten Viber Lenses – a new way for brands to interact with their customers. They can use Lenses to add a brand logo, color filter, 3D elements, sound effects, and customized partial and full-character animation. Lenses can also connect with a brand's chatbot, channel, or website.
• Rakuten Viber Stickers – fun, engaging stickers in your brand’s style available for free for users to download. On average, each sticker is getting used over 11 times, with more than 1 billion stickers exchanged per month. A perfect way to take your brand viral.
• Games within a chatbot – let your customers have fun while on the app by offering games and entertainment. This will make them more likely to spend more time interacting with your content and increase user retention and involvement.
• Payment on Rakuten Viber  – Rakuten Viber just made it even easier to make transactions. With payments on Rakuten Viber, people can now set up a digital wallet to store money directly within the app – no more need to switch between different banking or money-sending apps.

And the list goes on. Rakuten Viber continues to prove its title as a Superapp and does everything to build a well-functioning ecosystem with endless possibilities for regular users and businesses.

Contact Rakuten Viber for Business