Those looking for the real alternative to applications like WhatsApp and programs like Skype don't have to look very far. The famous Viber application has been updated these days with a new version, Viber 4 which greatly improves its free calling and messaging services and also brings them to the PC.
In this way Viber merges the best of two programs: on the one hand it allows you to send free SMS and messages to friends who have the application installed on their smartphone by taking their phone number from the address book (which does Whatsapp but does not do Skype which instead is based on an account separate from the phone number), on the other hand allows you to send messages and make free calls to the contacts in the address book that have Viber, even from the computer, which with Skype you can do but with Whatsapp not.
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Viber can be downloaded and installed on iPhone and iPad and on Android smartphones and tablets (Samsung Galaxy, Huawei, LG, Nexus and others).
In addition, Viber can be downloaded and installed for free also on Windows PC, on Mac and as an app on Windows 8 .
The service now boasts 300 million users and is also very popular in Italy so it is easy that many friends who already use it will be automatically found.
Viber, compared to Skype, is much lighter and more functional.
Each user must register their mobile phone number on Viber.
After installation on the phone, it connects to the address book and recognizes the contact numbers that have registered with Viber and activated it on the mobile phone.
All these people will be able to call each other absolutely free, as long as they have a rechargeable or subscription plan that lets them connect to the internet in 3G (which is quite obvious if you have an iPhone or an Android smartphone) or by being connected to a Wifi.
To receive calls via Viber, simply keep the background service active on your mobile phone.
Viber for mobile can be downloaded free for Android and for iPhone .
The voice quality of the call is excellent and there are no limits, the call can last as long as necessary and as much as you want, better than any other plan offered by mobile phone companies.
Viber on mobile also includes new features, including the ability to send video messages and the push to talk function to use the mobile phone as a Walkie Talkie .
There are also smileys, emoticons and stickers for chat .
To install Viber on PC and Mac, you must first be logged in to Viber from your smartphone.
When registering, you must enter your mobile phone number including the international prefix (e.g. 39347123456 ) and receive the confirmation SMS on the phone.
The desktop version of Viber allows you to message with contacts from your computer, allows you to make calls and even video calls as you can also do with Skype.
For the moment the quality of video calls is certainly not the same as Skype but it will certainly be improved in the future.
Viber remains running on the PC in the background.
Viber synchronizes contacts, messages and call history with your mobile phone, so you can start the conversation on Viber from your phone and continue comfortably from your PC.
Incoming and sent messages are displayed in all open applications, both on smartphones and on computers.
Viber cannot be considered one of the alternatives to Whatsapp to send messages for free and it is a program that I recommend to everyone to use to remain always available and to contact friends for free from PC and mobile phone, via the internet connection.
That Viber that was previously just one of many, now becomes a fundamental app for all owners of a smartphone or mobile phone that can connect to the internet, to make free calls and to send messages.
Update: With Viber Out you can also make calls to landlines and mobiles around the world
