Viber Pay to be introduced in PH

Popular messaging platform Viber will soon introduce its digital payments feature in the Philippines.

Viber Pay is designed to allow businesses and the general public to instantly send money as easily and securely as sending a Viber message, according to Rakuten Viber.

Early access will start in September.

Filipino users who want early access should update to the newest version of the Viber app and sign up for the waitlist via the new "Pay" tab.

''Once early access is granted, users can activate their digital wallet by completing a simple signup process that usually takes less than a minute. After activation, users can instantly send money to friends and family on Rakuten Viber for free; add money to their account through mobile wallet apps GCash and Maya, bank transfers, or over-the-counter methods; and securely buy from businesses that accept InstaPay,'' Rakuten Viber said in a press release.

''To upgrade to the full Viber Pay experience, users must verify their identity by scanning their ID and uploading a selfie. Once verified, they can request money from friends on Rakuten Viber with a QR code, withdraw funds from their wallet, and increase their monthly transaction limit from P50,000  to P100,000.''

Business owners can open a Business Wallet on top of their Personal Wallet and accept secure payments from customers via a QR code.

The benefits of having a Business Wallet include a higher transaction limit of P500,000.

Business wallets are expected to be available shortly after the launch of personal wallets.

“The Philippines stands out as a key market with a robust community of active Rakuten Viber users and a growing demand for secure cashless transactions, and so we expect to see strong demand and usage here for Viber Pay,” said Rakuten Viber vice president of fintech and business solutions Ritesh Shah.

“Launching Viber Payments here sets the stage for a more convenient, inclusive, and secure payments ecosystem, ensuring that Filipinos can enjoy secure, hassle-free payment services within the super app where they already call and chat with their loved ones every day.” —VBL, GMA Integrated News