Viber has now made the jump to the Universal Windows Platform, with a UWP app re-write of its core messaging and calling 'over the top' product. Expect emojis and animations galore, but there's also a full responsive design that works on laptop, tablet and phone. Good to see yet another high profile name get a UWP app for Windows 10. Snapchat next, perhaps? [fx: ducks]

From the Microsoft blog post:

We announced the release of Viber for Windows 10 beta last month and now, we’re excited to welcome the full version to the Windows Store. Viber for Windows 10, free to download on all your Windows 10 devices, now includes great new features such as video calls for mobile, Cortana support*, quick reply and more!

Viber is the easy-to-use free app that lets you send messages and make HD-quality phone and video calls securely over WiFi and mobile networks from just about anywhere. Share photos, videos and voice messages, message groups of up to 200 people, and if you have second thoughts about a message you’ve sent, just delete it – even after it’s been delivered.

Let’s take a closer look at the awesome features in Viber for Windows 10:

• Video calls on mobile: Now you can video-call anyone from your phone!
• Quick reply: Your messages will pop up outside of the app so that you can reply quickly, without opening up the app, and get on with whatever you’re doing.
• Cortana support: Simply ask Cortana with your voice to call or text someone for you.
• Share to Viber: Share links, text, photos, videos or your location to Viber easily from within any Windows 10 app.
• Access chats from Start menu: Start a new message or reply in recent chats right from the Start menu.
• Organize stickers: Hide and change the display order of your stickers through the Sticker Market settings.
• Localization: New language support for both Russian and Portuguese
• Live Tile: The Live Tile in Windows 10 will show you your new messages
• Like messages: You can now like messages in group chats

Or, you know, use Skype. But that's just me being grumpy about the sheer number of messaging apps and services these days. Viber is a big name in some countries and it's good to see a full on UWP tested and available to all. Just don't ask if I've bought any good animated GIFs recently - I'm old school and if I want to use punctuation then that's how I roll 8-)

Amazingly, we hadn't covered Viber at all for two years. When we did, Rafe did a good intro to the product and service, focussing on the value of the calling side of things:

Viber Out essentially allows users to call "everyone at local rates", potentially offering substantial savings over standard operator charges for voice calls. For example, calling Singapore from the UK is charged at £0.01 per minute for a landline or mobile, when using Viber Out, a saving of up to 90% over standard UK operator charges.

Given that many smartphone users are on contracts, with an allocation of inclusive minutes for local / national calls, Viber Out is going to be most useful when looking to save money when making international calls, or when roaming in another country (if using a WiFi connection). 

Like most "calling out" systems Viber Out works on prepaid system (i.e. similar to PAYG), with the ability to buy credits from within the app, or via the Viber website. Credit can be bought via Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or PayPal. Each time you make a call the appropriate amount of credit is removed from your balance.