Messaging App Viber introduces Public Chats Feature

Today Viber, has launching Public Chats, giving users a way of using its private messaging app to broadcast to the world at large.

Public Chats will see the introduction of live conversation streams  from celebrities, or  other interesting people “like taxi drivers!”  that will be open for any follower to see, but not necessarily participate in.

Users will only be able to jump in and talk in Public Chats if the account in question is in their contacts, and then, those comments will become a part of the public stream.

This new development gives Viber a little social media spin, and at the same time helps differentiate it from the rest of the crowded messaging app pack.

Public Chats is launching with a list of “global celebrities” signed up, including Perez Hilton, YouTube sensation Tyler Oakley, singer-songwriter Pixie Lott, international DJ Paul van Dyk, digital fashion innovators Next Model Management, European football channel COPA90.

It’s been optimized first for Android devices but will work on other versions of the Viber app at 5.0 or higher. You select the Public Chats bar from the main menu, then the “compass” icon to find a list of available Public Chats to follow, then you follow them.

Source: Tech Crunch