Early access for Viber Pay users will start in September. Viber users in the Philippines can sign up for the waitlist as early as now, the company said. Viber Handout.

MANILA -- Viber is launching a digital payment service in the Philippines.

In a statement, Rakuten Viber said it will soon launch Viber Pay, which will allow its users to send and receive money as easily as they send messages.

Viber said Filipinos can get Viber Pay ahead of the full launch by updating their Rakuten Viber app to the latest version and joining the waitlist from the new ‘Pay’ tab, which is being rolled out over the coming days. Early access will begin in September.

Once they have access, users can activate their digital wallet by completing a signup process that will take less than a minute, the company said. From here, they can send money to their contacts or add money to their wallets through mobile wallet apps GCash and Maya, bank transfers, or over-the-counter methods.

They can also buy from businesses that accept InstaPay.

Customers, however, can also upload their valid ID and take a selfie to up their monthly Viber Pay transaction limit from P50,000 to P100,000.

Verifying their identity also allows them to request money from their Viber contacts with a QR code and withdraw funds from their wallet.

Viber Pay was first announced in mid-2022. It was rolled out in Greece and Germany, and was initially expected to be launched in late 2023.

Viber said wallet access and transactions are protected by a PIN code and biometric authentication. 

Viber launches business accounts for SMEs, pushes back Viber Pay launch to next year

Viber also said that Filipinos will be the first in the world to receive business wallets to keep personal and business finances separate in Viber.

The Business wallet lets businessmen take payments from customers using a QR code, and increases their transaction limit to P500,000. Opening a Business wallet requires a verification process similar to opening a personal Viber Pay wallet.

Business wallets will be available soon after personal wallets are launched, Viber said. Viber launched business-centric updates to its messaging app in 2023.

Viber launches business features, eyes launch of in-app payments this year

Viber said it partnered with Paynamics, one of the Philippines' biggest digital payment providers, in creating its digital payments service. Rakuten Viber vice president of finTech and business Ritesh Shah said the Philippines has a robust community of users and a growing demand for secure cashless transactions, so they expect to see strong demand in the country. 

“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," he said.