But Skype and the other mobile communication apps I've used can also find your local phone's contacts, so that's not much of a differentiator. On the plus side, the real phone-number approach does make account setup easy, and it means the app can find contacts on the phone. With Kik, Skype, or Facebook Messenger, you simply use your account username, avoiding those pitfalls. Read Our Kik Messenger (for Windows Phone) Review Viber apps are available for just about every mobile platform you can think of (and some you can't): iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, Windows, Mac, Symbian, Nokia S40 and Bada. I tested on both a desktop PC and a Surface RT tablet. It works on both Windows 8.1 x86 and Windows RT ARM-based tablets. You get the free Viber app by downloading it from the Windows Store (Opens in a new window). Let's take the app for a spin and see how well Viber works at what it can do.

It doesn't, however, replace Apple FaceTime or Skype's similar video capabilities. Giving you the same messaging system and ID on your phone, tablet, and PC means Viber is in effect a cross-platform version of iMessage, which is restricted to Apple devices. The Windows 8.1 Viber app (free) is its latest incarnation, having landed in the last month of 2013.

Viber doesn't add a whole lot to the Skype model, actually lacking several of the bigger player's major features, but it's a well designed and economical way to send text messages and place VoIP calls. First there was email, then instant messaging, then Skype, then WhatsApp, then Facebook Messenger, and on and on.

Can't use without a separate mobile phone installation.Įvery few years, there's a newer, hotter way to communicate with your friends and colleagues.

Requires divulging your real phone number.

How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.

How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.

How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.

How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.

How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.

How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.

Www viber com desktop