Communication services like Skype (News - Alert) and Viber, which are VoIP apps that, once installed, will enable users to call, chat, and send SMS free via the Internet, are expected to keep driving the market, as the number of people interested in free phoning from a computer or mobile device increases. Viber-to-Viber and Skype-to-Skype calls are free; both apps work easily via VoIP from a computer to connect contacts free of charge. Anyone can make free Internet calls no matter where in the world the calling parties are.
The global softswitch market has also been witnessing an increased use of PC-to-PC calls, in addition to that from smartphone-to-smartphone. Both Skype and Viber apps are used worldwide. So, how exactly does Viber compare with Skype? Which one is better, and why, from a VoIP softswitch technology point of view?
Andrew Fletcher, author of a post “Viber vs. Skype-Let’s Determine Which is Best,” tried to answer the question, last week in The Gamer Headlines. The piece tells how both apps, Viber and Skype, are some of today’s most popular choices in terms of VoIP services; a comparison is made for users to decide which app to download, install and use.
In terms of popularity, Skype is still the biggest name in VoIP. It remains the world's most popular free VOIP and instant messaging service that lets users make free voice or video calls to other Skype users. (It also lets users connect with friends with a Microsoft (News - Alert) ID). The service uses P2P technology to connect users on a multitude of platforms including desktop, mobile and tablet. The video conferencing and the screen-share feature have also made Skype popular for business use.
For consumers, the Skype call quality is excellent for both voice and video calls; even the sound quality is clear and for this, it is known to be better than other VoIP services.
Viber, that has less than a third of the number of Skype users, is becoming more and more popular, says Fletcher in his post. The app is one of the most effective at what it does – i.e., messaging, video and voice calling. What’s more, users can send messages and stickers, and exchange files and photos between active users on the service, free. Although Viber is not widely used, it is said to be an ideal alternative to the perennially popular VoIP service Skype.
The vast majority of users are satisfied with the quality of service Viber provides, being a VoIP app with mobile and desktop abilities. For mobility, Viber was there first, while Skype was originally intended for the desktop and only made its way to the mobile market afterwards. Yet, the same can be said about mobile-first, messaging and communications platform Viber that landed later on desktops.
According to Costea Lestoc, author of another post on the subject in The Fuse Joplin, “Viber is a mobile app while Skype is a desktop app, regardless of the fact that they now offer support on both platforms.” Fletcher concurs and suggests consumers would be better off by using Skype on a desktop, while Viber would be the better option for mobile users thanks to its ease of use and to the fact that does not need to identify a user through a username and password, like Skype.
As far as call and video quality, Viber commenters say it is on par with Skype. However, the data consumption of Skype is much higher when users engage in high-quality calls.
While Skype is better known for one to one video calling, group video calling is also available; it is free of charge for also users on Windows desktop and Mac and more recently Xbox One. The same holds true with Viber for Windows that can also support group conversations. Both Skype and Viber can be used to make video calls on different platforms. It is possible to make video calls from PC to smartphones and vice versa, using a high-speed Internet connection.
When choosing VoIP for free calls, which app service is better to use really depends on what the end user expects from the experience. Overall, both Viber and Skype are great apps for communicating with other users. The platform used by the caller might still make a difference on which software to use, but, although Skype still leads the way with its impressive customer base, Viber is closing the gap by adding new, comparable services (for example Viber credits). For now, the VoIP war continues to determine who will dominate this growing market in the future.
Edited by Alisen Downey