Why doesn't Viber and WhatsApp work together - briefly?
Viber and WhatsApp do not work together because they are owned by different companies with competing interests. Both platforms use proprietary protocols that are incompatible with each other, preventing seamless integration or interoperability.
Why doesn't Viber and WhatsApp work together - in detail?
The incompatibility between Viber and WhatsApp can be attributed to several key factors that prevent these platforms from working seamlessly together.
Firstly, both Viber and WhatsApp are owned by different companies with distinct business models and strategic objectives. Viber is a product of Rakuten Inc., a Japanese electronic commerce and Internet company, while WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook). These parent companies have their own priorities and goals for their messaging platforms, which may not align with each other.
Another significant factor is the proprietary nature of these applications. Both Viber and WhatsApp use closed-source protocols that are designed to work exclusively within their respective ecosystems. This means that the data exchange formats, encryption methods, and communication protocols used by these apps are not standardized or open for integration with other platforms. For instance, WhatsApp uses the MTProto protocol developed by its founders, while Viber employs a proprietary encryption method. The lack of interoperability between these protocols makes it challenging to facilitate direct communication between the two services.
Additionally, the data privacy and security measures implemented by both platforms pose barriers to integration. Both Viber and WhatsApp place a strong emphasis on end-to-end encryption to protect user communications from unauthorized access. However, this high level of security also hinders interoperability with other messaging services, as it requires complex encryption key management and data exchange processes that are not easily compatible with each other's systems.
Furthermore, the competitive landscape in which these companies operate plays a role in their reluctance to collaborate. Viber and WhatsApp are part of a larger market of messaging applications, including Signal, Telegram, and others. Each platform strives to differentiate itself by offering unique features and benefits to users, aiming to attract and retain a loyal user base. Allowing seamless communication between different platforms could dilute these competitive advantages and reduce the incentive for users to remain exclusively on one service.
Lastly, technical complexity and potential legal issues also contribute to the incompatibility between Viber and WhatsApp. Integrating two distinct messaging systems requires significant development effort and resources. It involves addressing compatibility issues, ensuring data integrity, and maintaining user privacy across both platforms. Additionally, legal considerations such as data protection regulations and compliance requirements can further complicate the integration process.
In summary, the incompatibility between Viber and WhatsApp is a result of various factors including different corporate ownership, proprietary protocols, stringent security measures, market competition, technical complexity, and potential legal issues. These challenges collectively prevent these messaging platforms from working together effectively.