Viber users can look forward to welcoming Rakuten’s “Shopping is Entertainment” philosophy into their lives, as the Japanese e-commerce outfit intends to use the messaging platform as a tool for breaking… Read more »
Israel’s Calcalist says bootstrapped Viber is negotiating a sale worth somewhere between $300 and 400 million — but who’s the mystery suitor? Read more »
Kik is embarking on the next step of its transformation from over-the-top communications provider to social content company. An embedded browser will let users share any web content directly. Read more »
100 million isn’t quite the milestone it once was, but Kik’s recent growth spurt is elevating the messaging startup above the crowded mid-tier of OTT app providers. Read more »
Viber is now selling international long distance. The latest version of its iPhone and Android apps will connect calls to outside landline and mobile phone numbers. Read more »
When the consolidation wave in the OTT market comes, there will be winners and losers. Will the losers just fizzle out or find a new way to innovate? Read more »
Tango is retooling its over-the-top communications business around social networking and providing communications services for game makers. It credits that approach to its recent surge in growth, adding 50 million new… Read more »
Carriers thought WhatsApp and Skype would shine bright and then simply fade way, says Genband CEO David Walsh. They were wrong. Now the mobile industry is fighting back with the tools… Read more »
Nothing is fragmented in the mobile app space quite like SMS alternatives. Is there a possibility for a company to surge and become the one messaging app to rule them all? Read more »
We put the question to Rebtel CEO and over-the-top communications veteran Andreas Bernström. He had two big predictions: Google will acquire WhatsApp, and AT&T will acquire Twilio. Read more »