4th February, 2016
Viber, one of the leading messaging and calling apps with more than 664 million unique users worldwide, has opened its latest social channel ‘Public Chats’ to partners in Africa and the Middle East.
Mark Hardy, Chief Marketing Officer, CMO, Viber while announcing the launch recently said the Middle East and Africa are important markets for Viber, stressing that he is pleased to welcome local influencers and brands to the Public Chats platform
According to him, “We are sure they will enjoy chatting, commenting and debating live on this active social channel whilst sharing tips, news, and local content to our constantly connected mobile audience across the region.”
Hardy observed that selected partners in Africa, at Pan-African level and in key markets such as Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt, have joined Public Chats for this regional launch in a bid to be the first players to offer local conversations on Viber. African users can now start to follow them from the Viber Public Chats explore page.
“Brands, organisations, celebrities, public figures and social influencers from these countries can now join Viber’s global platform to reach a local and regional audience,” he said.
Jumia, the leading ecommerce platform in Africa, recently opened Public Chats in Egypt and Nigeria and were one of the first partners to join this new social channel in the Middle East and Africa. Viber users can expect more Jumia Public Chats to open in the African continent in the coming months.
“We are really excited with this partnership,” stated Jeremy Doutte, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Jumia. “As new African customers discover the Internet first through their mobile, we want to address them wherever they are. Viber is a mobile first company with an outstanding reach in Africa. Jumia is also a mobile first company and the first online shopping destination in Africa. Joining forces will enable both Viber and Jumia to deliver quality content and good vibes to our users.”
Other partners in Nigeria include The Future Project, an organisation designed to empower citizens across Africa; Naij.com, an online news platform; YNaija, the internet newspaper for young Nigerians; BellaNaija, Nigeria’s premiere online lifestyle magazine; 360nobs, the number 1 media platform for music and celebrity news in Nigeria; Style Me Africa, Nigerian-based platform for African designers; Style Vitae, Nigeria’s online media dedicated to fashion, style and beauty; Giditraffic, Nigeria’s urban network & No.1 source for real-time traffic updates; George Okoro, renowned photographer capturing the best of Nigerian celebrity & luxury weddings; Uzo Orimalade, CEO of Uzo’s Food Lab, a budding food and home entertainment blog and IT Talk Africa, an informative and resourceful tech hub for Africans, powered by Future Soft.
“We are immensely excited to partner with Viber to further our goal to reach and inspire Africa’s youth. Viber’s platform gives us the opportunity to facilitate meaningful, quality conversations in real time on how to empower African citizens.
“360Nobs is proud to be in partnership with Viber. The platform offers a new thoroughly engaging way to connect with our growing network of entertainment enthusiasts. We look forward to bringing our conversations to the Viber platform,” said Noble.
“As a photographer, being able to share my stories, is very important to me and Viber allows me not only to share but encourage conversations around them,” stated George Okoro.
“I love capturing weddings and ceremonies, and I am excited to be sharing my photography journey; from behind-the scenes, to the finished work; memories created and captured through such an innovative and engaging platform.”
Other Pan-African partners include Brand Africa, a non-profit organisation and intergenerational movement to create a positive image of Africa, celebrate its diversity and drive its competitiveness, fashion influencer and stylist Louis Philippe de Gagoue, as well as Gareth Pon, Africa’s top instagrammer, filmmaker and social influencer with proficient knowledge in the use of mobile photography apps.
In the continent, Pan-African media such as AllAfrica.com and TRUE Africa have joined as partners and are now live on Public Chats.
“We’re excited to be an early adopter of this new Viber platform,” said Amadou Mahtar Ba, Chairman of All Africa Global Media. “We look forward to inviting African media to comment on current affairs and national events as they happen in their country. Public Chats promise to be an excellent tool to bring together our community of African media.”