(Image: Kobiz Media)
SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of corporate messaging services through the country’s top mobile messenger KakaoTalk is surging and forecast to reach 15 billion this year, data showed Thursday.
In September 2015, the company launched the so-called Notification Talk, or Allim Talk, service that allows corporations such as shopping malls and credit card companies to send various information to consumers.
According to the data by the Korea Internet and Security Agency submitted to the National Assembly, the number of notification messages, standing at just 1.5 billion in 2016, shot up to 5 billion last year and will surge threefold in 2018.
Industry sources said that while the service has increased user convenience in many areas, there are considerable side effects that need to be tackled.
Because of the inexpensive nature of the service, some businesses have abused it to send unwanted ads related to illegal gambling and pornography. At present, there are no laws regulating what can and can’t be sent on notification services.
(Yonhap)
