Kim Youngdal, CEO of IDIS PowerTel, "Securing 1 Million Walkie-Talkie Service Subscribers by Next Year"

Launch of Smartphone In-App Based 'PTalk-Biz'

Kim Young-dal, CEO of IDIS Powertel

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] Idis Powertel, a two-way radio communication specialist company acquired by Idis last year, is making a fresh start as a digital platform-based two-way radio company. It plans to expand partnerships with platform businesses through two-way radio services based on smartphone applications (apps). The company also expressed its ambition to increase the number of two-way radio subscribers from the current 200,000 units to 1 million units by the end of next year.

Idis Powertel announced on the 28th that it will launch 'PTalk-Biz,' a smartphone in-app based two-way radio service.

This service was developed based on the research and development (R&D) capabilities of the Idis Group and Idis Powertel’s 30 years of know-how in two-way radio services. It can be used on smartphones without a dedicated two-way radio device. It provides an API within corporate business apps and can also be used through its own app. Subscribers can create their own two-way radio IDs and set up two-way radio groups. It supports a toggle function that allows continuous two-way radio communication with a single push of the talk key, and a floating mode that is always visible on the screen even when using business apps.

Two-way radio services have had entry barriers as users needed to purchase a separate dedicated two-way radio device and apply for subscription. However, when using PTalk-Biz, large subscribers with more than 30,000 units (in-app basis) can use the service on smartphones without purchasing separate two-way radios, at a rate of around 1,000 KRW, the company explained. This is about one-tenth of the existing fees, the company added.

The first application is Barogo, a delivery platform service company. Idis Powertel recently signed a business partnership with Barogo to establish a rider safety delivery infrastructure using PTalk-Biz. Barogo riders can exchange delivery-related information such as traffic and accident updates through two-way radio communication.

Idis Powertel is pursuing business partnerships with communities requiring two-way radio services, such as outdoor activity platform company Beagle and AI deep-tech company Coconut Silo.

Kim Youngdal, CEO of Idis Powertel, said, "Starting with 'PTalk-Biz,' Idis Powertel will transform from a traditional two-way radio communication operator into a digital platform two-way radio company. We plan to expand the number of two-way radio subscribers, which has been only 200,000 units over the past 30 years, to 1 million units by the end of next year and lay the foundation for global market entry."