Who invented Viber and WhatsApp - briefly?
Jan Koum founded WhatsApp in 2009, while Talmon Marco and Igor Magazinik created Viber in 2010.
Who invented Viber and WhatsApp - in detail?
The inventors of Viber and WhatsApp are two distinct figures who have significantly impacted the modern landscape of communication technology.
Viber was created by Talmon Marco and Igor Magazinnik in 2010. Talmon Marco, a former officer in the Israeli Defense Forces, had a background in software development and entrepreneurship. He had previously worked on developing mobile applications and had experience in the tech industry. Igor Magazinnik, also from Israel, was a software engineer with extensive experience in developing communication solutions. Together, they recognized the potential of mobile messaging apps to revolutionize how people communicate globally.
The idea for Viber emerged when Marco and Magazinnik observed the growing trend of using smartphones for communication but noticed that traditional voice calls were expensive, especially for international calls. They decided to develop a solution that would allow users to make free voice and video calls over the internet, bypassing the high costs associated with conventional phone services. Viber was launched in December 2010 and quickly gained popularity due to its ease of use and cost-effectiveness. In 2014, Viber was acquired by Rakuten, a Japanese e-commerce company, for $900 million.
WhatsApp, on the other hand, was founded by Jan Koum in 2009. Born in Ukraine, Koum moved to the United States with his mother when he was 16 years old. He developed an interest in programming and computers at a young age and worked for various technology companies before starting WhatsApp. Brian Acton, a former colleague of Koum's at Yahoo, joined him as a co-founder.
Koum and Acton were inspired to create WhatsApp after they observed the limitations and costs associated with traditional SMS messaging. They envisioned an application that would allow users to send messages over the internet for free, making communication more accessible and affordable. WhatsApp was officially launched in 2009 and quickly became a global phenomenon, particularly popular among users who wanted to avoid the high fees associated with international texting. The app's simplicity and reliability contributed to its rapid growth and widespread adoption.
In February 2014, Facebook acquired WhatsApp for approximately $19 billion in cash and stock, making it one of the largest acquisitions in technology history. This acquisition further solidified WhatsApp's position as a leading messaging platform worldwide.
Both Viber and WhatsApp have transformed the way people communicate globally by offering free and reliable messaging services. The vision and ingenuity of their founders have not only disrupted traditional communication methods but also paved the way for new innovations in digital communication technology.