[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] Kakao has launched a beta service for 'Eum(mm)', a voice-based social networking service (SNS) similar to 'Clubhouse'.
On the 8th, Kakao stated, "We focused on the increasing demand for non-face-to-face conversations due to COVID-19 and the growth potential of audio platforms, which have become a major trend in the global market," explaining the background of the launch.
This expands Kakao's experience and expertise gained from operating 'KakaoTalk' for over 10 years into a voice-based platform.
'Eum' is available for download on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Users can sign up using their Kakao account and easily create chat rooms. A Kakao official said, "It will be a unique space for the MZ generation, who are accustomed to communicating and expressing their tastes and interests."
'Eum' allows users to select three or more topics from 26 categories such as daily life, dating, marriage, parenting, networking, and exercise to communicate with others.
Additionally, leveraging the characteristics of an audio platform, users can enjoy and listen to live music from artists in the form of audio concerts or use it as a space for regular conversations during specific times such as commuting hours.
To use the service, launch the app, press the '+' button at the bottom center tab, enter the room title and topic, and then press 'Create Room' to open a chat room. Users can click on chat room lists displayed according to their selected interests to join ongoing conversations. Created chat rooms can also be searched.
Emojis can be used to express status or emotions during conversations, and KakaoTalk Open Chat can be used simultaneously. Through the notice settings menu within the created chat room, users can link an Open Chat room by entering its link or press the 'Create Open Chat' button to open a chat room with participants.
In the 'Upcoming Schedule' tab, users can view a list of scheduled chat rooms, set notifications, or register the title, topic, and schedule of a room they plan to create. The 'Friend Activity' tab on the right displays friends currently online and the titles of chat rooms they are participating in. Users can link their KakaoTalk Open Profile or enter a website in their profile area to express themselves.
Kakao plans to analyze user usability during the beta service period and sequentially improve various features based on the analysis.
A Kakao official said, "We plan to strengthen integration with Kakao's service assets such as Kakao Certification and Multi-profile in the future," adding, "We look forward to the diverse and free voices of users created in ‘Eum(mm)’, a space where auditory media and IT technology converge to communicate through big and small stories."
Meanwhile, Clubhouse is a voice SNS launched in April last year by the US startup 'Alpha Exploration'. It sparked a craze when Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared on Clubhouse, but its popularity has recently declined.
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