A new version of Viber for Android has just been released: 2.0.1
What's new?

- "Exit" button. Note that shutting Viber off may result in unavailability to receive calls and texts.
- Important features, such as Proximity Sensor, are now enabled by default.
- Viber-contacts identification mechanism was improved.
- Many other bug fixes.

Please find the new version in Market. We'd love to hear your feedback!

Thanks for the update.

good job on exit button...

now i got a Q... i have enabled the icon on notification bar. i can see the icon showing its connected.

but when i check for running services/ programs, viber is no longer listed.

so, is viber really running or not?

my viber keeps forcing close on my htc desire after the update... i am not sure whether it's my phone problem or viber's problem...

great job Viber on the new version. With the "exit" button hopefully it'll be able to solve the battery drain issue.

@mydragoon -
Check it. Repeat a situation where Viber service is not running, and have a friend call and text you via Viber. Does it work? Please let me know.

@law_yew_wooi -
We don't know of a special problem with HTC Desire. Remove Viber, reboot your phone, reinstall from Market and see what happens.

edited my post...

test 1
set icon to appear on notification bar. checked running services and viber is not there. but i'm still receiving messages,
Q1: how come viber can still be running but not listed? some sort of programming trickery? in this case, is it really running and consuming battery but hidden to create a psychological thingy?

test 2
disabled icon from notification bar. viber not on notification bar. checked running services and viber is not there. cleared memory to close all running processes. asked friend (using Google Talk) to send me message on viber. viber comes alive... message comes in.
Q2: similar to Q1... is the service now hidden?

and test 2 would make it look like its no point exiting. messages can still come in. and the interesting thing is... how is this happening?

i'm using samsung galaxy s2 and no mod/ flashing. using original rom.

This post has been edited by mydragoon: Aug 2 2011, 04:06 PM

some friends were asking... so i tot i'd post here... any plans to do voice message as well?

using device key... on SGS2, to bring up search, i will need to:
1. press on menu key (capacitive key)
2. press search
3. type the first letter
that's three key strokes.

i guess i can also use that 'button' that appears on the right side of the screen to scroll like you indicated.

but here's a suggestion. this is the phone's contact screen. at the right side, you can see tiny alphabets. touch and it jumps to that letter. i think its nice to have. but not sure how others would feel...

Just want to note that viber is in my running services for both of your tests. Same phone, same ROM.

@mydragoon

I understand what you mean now...

There is no "secret" or programming trickery
It's a service by Google called C2DM, and it's similar to Push Notifications with iPhones. This service is actually a command sent from Google's servers that can turn on certain applications on your Android. Some apps, like Viber, use this to REALLY be shut off, but still stay available for calls and texts.

In short - don't worry, the battery consumption is ZERO when you Exit Viber, but it can still stay available and "come to life" with C2DM's help.

About your suggestion for the contact list - we might be adding this letter scroll bar on the right side, but for now it'll stay the way you see it, since Viber's interface tries to adapt to ALL phones, not only galaxy.

i left my viber on for the wholeday... did not exit the app at all... and left it monitor for 24 hours... here's what i come up with...

HTC Desire, MIUI-Au 1.7.29
Phone left idle and i go to sleep 6-8 hours... WiFi, 3G all off and kill apps clear cache before locking the phone and sleep (yes im seriously testing it so i follow the exact steps)
without viber - 3-5% drained
with viber - 4-6% drained

phone normal usage whole day
battery draining speed is SAME as olden days...

used battery monitoring system i have in my MIUI ROM,
comparing 3 alternate message apps
viber taking up 1%, whatsapp 1%, liveprofile 1% for whole day... no difference... all of the three did not receive or sent any....

NOTE: i did not even EXIT Viber... so push/C2DM is working...

i think i can start using viber now i dont see any HUGE difference in battery life...
Never compare to whatsapp/live profile if you call using viber.. they simply do not have call service and of course talking through phone will consume battery....

That is all... i hope more people can test it out seriously and get rid of any false assumptions or misunderstandings...

Cheers,
YK

@HeartRoxas

Thanks for your detailed test and report. I will be able to refer many users here to your message in order to see a thorough test based on empirical details

---

Added on August 3, 2011, 10:48 pm
Hi everyone,

I'm excited to announce that according to preliminary results, it seems as though we managed to find and fix the collision problem of Viber with CM7 and MIUI ROMs (and possible the rest as well)
Both these ROMs "change" the device's identity (virtually, of course), preventing Viber from adapting itself correctly to the device's microphone configuration. This is why most of you with ROMs experienced the one-side audio issue.

Anyway - we are working on adding a fix to the new version that will hopefully be officially released next week to Market.

Updates soon,
Viber.

This post has been edited by Viber: Aug 3 2011, 10:48 PM

lol my test is without WiFi connection and also Data Plan... so i dont think my test is valid enough yet... because i seem to notice viber, and other alternate messaging apps i mentioned above tend to not use any battery at all when there is no connection... when there is connection then we'll have to see how frequent the app is used...
so my testing is not detail let alone professional... but the fact that i do not have to EXIT the app with battery life still draining the same is something though...
Im glad that viber is reading and supporting whatever we voiced out.. that itself can mean the best software out there already.. after all feedback and replies is the best for us customers....


Cheers,
YK

P/S:Im using MIUI and your patch is a good news.. i dont face that always but at times yes...

The Exit button didn't work for me. I exit and Viber came back instantly. Same thing happens when I kill the Viber task. Meaning it's always there unless I uninstall it... the previous version would stay killed if I kill it. Just an observation. And Update Contact List has improved. Samsung Ace 2.2.

This post has been edited by Dannyl: Aug 5 2011, 08:54 AM

hi everyone newbie here, just wan to make clear that is the viber allows to call or text even without wifi? or it charge on 3g? one stupid question to ask, any difference with skype? May consider buying 1 android phone for this apps =) thanks

Viber uses data, so you need either wifi or 3G. Useful if you have a lot of contacts using Viber. Not sure about Skype, never used before, maybe someone else can help

i also notice this..but my case is after i press exit, its gone..however if someone msg me or call me, it will suddenly pop out again then appear as notification back.. sometime, if i connect back my data connection or wifi, it will also pop out occasionally.. then i hv to press exit again..

just installed in my HTC ChaCha and found it is good. but it runs in the portrait mode and make me have to always turn my phone to suit the usage.

i have no choice but to uninstall it. hope the in progress landscape mode will be out soon.

This post has been edited by dust: Aug 6 2011, 12:09 PM