# Igor Magazinnik

> israeli-Russian entrepreneur and businessman

**Wikidata**: [Q20988659](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20988659)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igor_Magazinnik)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/igor-magazinnik

## Summary
Igor Magazinnik is an Israeli-Russian entrepreneur and businessman best known as the co-founder of the messaging platform Viber and the file-sharing service iMesh. Born in the Soviet Union, he later became an Israeli citizen and played a significant role in developing influential telecommunications and software products.

## Biography
- **Born**: 1975, Nizhny Novgorod  
- **Nationality**: Soviet Union, Israel  
- **Education**: Bar-Ilan University  
- **Known for**: Co-founding Viber and iMesh  
- **Employer(s)**: Viber, iMesh  
- **Field(s)**: Technology, telecommunications  

## Contributions  
Igor Magazinnik co-founded **iMesh**, a peer-to-peer file-sharing client launched in 1999, which gained popularity during the early days of digital media sharing. His most notable venture is **Viber**, a cross-platform messaging and voice-over-IP service launched in 2010. Viber quickly rose to prominence as a competitor to Skype and WhatsApp, offering free text, voice, and video communication. In 2014, Viber was acquired by Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten for $900 million, underscoring its global impact. Magazinnik’s work bridged gaps in communication technology, emphasizing accessibility and user-friendly design.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Igor Magazinnik best known for?  
A: He is best known for co-founding Viber, a widely used messaging app, and iMesh, an early file-sharing platform.  

### Q: Where was Igor Magazinnik born?  
A: He was born in Nizhny Novgorod, Soviet Union (now Russia), in 1975.  

### Q: What happened to Viber after its launch?  
A: Viber was acquired by Rakuten in 2014 for $900 million, marking a major milestone in Magazinnik’s career.  

## Why They Matter  
Igor Magazinnik’s contributions reshaped telecommunications by making messaging and voice calls accessible to millions globally. Viber, in particular, democratized cross-border communication during a period of rapid smartphone adoption. Its acquisition by Rakuten highlighted its commercial success and strategic value in the tech industry. Without Magazinnik’s innovations, the landscape of messaging apps—and the competition driving their evolution—would be notably different. His dual background as an Israeli-Russian entrepreneur also reflects the globalized nature of modern tech innovation.  

## Notable For  
- Co-founder of **Viber** (2010) and **iMesh** (1999).  
- Led Viber to a $900 million acquisition by Rakuten in 2014.  
- Developed influential platforms in both file-sharing and telecommunications sectors.  

## Body  
### Early Life and Education  
Igor Magazinnik was born in 1975 in Nizhny Novgorod, Soviet Union. He later relocated to Israel, where he studied at **Bar-Ilan University**, though specific details about his degree are not provided. His dual citizenship (Soviet Union/Israel) shaped his transnational career.  

### Career  
Magazinnik began his career as a programmer and software engineer, leveraging his technical expertise to launch **iMesh** in 1999. The platform became one of the earliest tools for peer-to-peer file sharing, capitalizing on the rise of digital media.  

### Major Ventures  
- **iMesh** (1999): A file-sharing client that operated during the Napster era, facilitating music and media distribution.  
- **Viber** (2010): A messaging app that gained traction for its free voice, text, and video services. By 2014, it had amassed hundreds of millions of users, prompting Rakuten’s acquisition.  

### Impact  
Magazinnik’s work emphasized user-centric design and global connectivity. Viber’s success demonstrated the demand for affordable, platform-agnostic communication tools, influencing the broader messaging app market. His exit from Viber marked one of the largest Israeli tech acquisitions of its time, cementing his reputation as a visionary entrepreneur.