Rakuten Viber Partners with Snap to Bring AR Lenses to its Messaging Platform  

SAN FRANCISCO, June 30, 2021 - Rakuten Viber, a global leader in cross-platform messaging and voice-based communication, will bring the magic of augmented reality (AR) Lenses to its app through a partnership with Snap Inc. Using Snap’s developer tools including Camera Kit, Creative Kit and Bitmoji, the Rakuten Viber app will integrate AR Lenses, enable sharing to Snapchat, and bring customizable Bitmoji avatars to Rakuten Viber.

Rakuten Viber Lenses Powered by Snap will offer AR-enabled video messaging and photos to Rakuten Viber users for the first time. The launch includes 30 new Rakuten Viber Lenses, including animal masks and Rakuten Viber Characters, an underwater Lens, silly cat interactions, and more. The company plans to add between 50-70 additional Lenses per month, amounting to at least 300 Lenses by the end of 2021. Businesses will also have the opportunity to create their own exclusive Lenses on Rakuten Viber. The World Wildlife Fund, FC Barcelona, and the World Health Organization are among the first Rakuten Viber partners to offer new Lenses on the messaging app.

Rakuten Viber is a calling and messaging app that connects people and allows them to express themselves creatively -- no matter who or where they are. Personal and group chats on Viber are end-to-end encrypted, so users can be sure that their communications are always private and secure.

Rakuten Viber Lenses are an uplifting addition to the app’s existing sticker collections, which allow users to express themselves visually while chatting away. The adoption of Snap’s Camera Kit, Bitmoji, and Creative Kit by Rakuten Viber are additional ways for the app to bring people closer together and make those connections even more meaningful and enjoyable.

New Rakuten Viber features include:

• Instant Augmented Reality - Overlay images on top of surroundings and harness the power of AR at your fingertips
• Attention-Grabbing Filters - Add a creative layer to your visuals and spark conversations with friends
• Expressive Masks - Select from a variety of masks that accurately follow users’ facial movements
• Beautification Features - Enhance your images with realistic touches like lipstick, blush, and a variety of hair colors
• Customized Bitmoji - Integrate personalized Bitmoji characters into photos and videos

The ability to offer sponsored and branded Lenses will provide an additional revenue stream to Rakuten Viber, as business partners will be able to create custom Lenses for their communities on the platform.

“Snap’s partnership with Rakuten Viber is a win-win situation for us both,” says Elliot Solomon, Director, Camera Platform Partnerships at Snap Inc. “It will help us expand our Augmented Reality technology into regions where Rakuten Viber already has a solid footprint, and help its users express themselves through AR on the platform.”  

“We’re excited to bring the Snap camera to Rakuten Viber users,” says Djamel Agaoua, CEO of Rakuten Viber. “Through this partnership, we want to empower the creativity of our users with AR, and we’re looking forward to inspiring new fun-filled ways for people to keep in touch with their friends and family members. Rakuten Viber is more than a messaging app. It not only connects people with each other, it is also a place where users can create entertaining, exciting, and rewarding content to share with their communities.” 

The iOS version of the app with these new features, as well as the Android beta version in English language, will be available starting June 30 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. Rakuten Viber will progressively roll out the features to all of its top 30 regions and to all Android users by the end of August.