Having said that, now it is easy to explain that just like your cellular service, that becomes unavailable when you shut off your phone or put it on Airplane Mode (as ral mentioned), so does Viber behave.
I can enter flight mode and then switch WiFi back on, but I can't switch off Viber without switching off
all internet connectivity.
For normal calls and texts I can choose when to receive them, who can call me (and who can't), which custom ringtones go silent and which rintones don't, etc. There are plenty of filtering options available for standard calls and texts, but Viber doesn't have any. It's like that tv set from
1984 that is always connected 24/7 whether you want it or not.
Many operators don't allow VoIP calls over their data networks, but they allow all sorts of text messaging. And even if net neutrality kicks in worldwide, Viber will still not be like cellular service as long as international data roaming costs a fortune. When you're roaming abroad a Viber call is way more expensive than a normal call, whereas international IMs are cheaper than SMS.
See why there are very good reasons to switch off contract-violating or international Viber calls without putting your entire phone offline? That requires an off switch that stops Vibers C2DM service without switching off WhatsApp or imo or Nimbuzz or IM+.
For now the only way to control Viber (short of uninstalling it and using Skype and Vonage instead) is by freezing Viber with apps like Titanium or MyBackup, and then unfreeze it when I want to receive Viber calls again.
It works, but it is a clumsy workaround. I'm sure Viber can do better than that.
Anyway, another Viber rep (or maybe it was you) said this:
Viber said...
*
Autostart enable/disable- This is a common users request and we are currently looking into it... The same holds for blocking contacts and limiting calls to WiFi/3G networks.
android underground said...Looking into an autostart toggle? Finally!
On the xda forum you kept saying that an exit button was as good as it would get. Good to hear that you changed your mind about it.
Viber said...
Things here change really fast
(
source)
android underground said...
Just put the autostart option in a screen behind an "ADVANCED SETTINGS!!! BEWARE OF THE DOG!!!" sign if you're afraid that some users will complain about self-inflicted damage. Problem solved.
Viber said...
Thanks for the suggestion -
that's indeed our general idea that's being considered these days.
(
source)
What's going on here? Is one Viber rep promising things that another Viber rep doesn't know about?