실명은 Kakaotalk(카카오톡)이라는 건데 한국에서는 네티존 인구의 96%가 이것을 사용하고 있다고 한다. 간단히 말해서 text message에 해당하는 것으로,
KakaoTalk (Korean: 카카오톡), or sometimes KaTalk, is a free mobile instant messaging application for smartphones with free text and free call features. It was launched on March 18, 2010 and is currently available on iOS, Android, Bada OS, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, Nokia Asha and Personal Computer. KakaoTalk currently has 170 million users and is available in 15 languages.[1] The app is also used by 93% of smartphone owners in South Korea.[2]
In addition to free calls and messages, KakaoTalk users can share diverse content and information including photos, videos, voice messages, location, URL links as well as contact information. Both one-on-one and group chats are available over Wifi, 3G or LTE and there are no limits to the number of friends who can join in on a group chat.
KakaoTalk automatically synchronizes the user’s contact list on their smartphones with the contact list on KakaoTalk to find friends who are on the service. Users can also search friends by KakaoTalk ID without having to know each other's phone number. The KakaoTalk service also allows its users to export their messages and save them for future reference.[3]
KakaoTalk began as a messenger service, but has transformed itself into a platform for the distribution of various third party content and apps, including hundreds of games, which users can download and play their friends through the messaging platform.
내 고교동창들이 이것을 사용해서 놀고 있다는 것을 어제 알았다. 실은 금년 초에 다운로드해서 PC로 해보려 했었는데, MobilPhone으로만 가능해서 지금까지 미루어 왔었다. 나도 iphone을 사용하고 있으나 주로 PC로도 충분한 바라 이것은 전화하는 데만 쓰고 인터네트에는 사용하지 않는 고로 Apple에서 말하는 Safari기능을 작동하지 않고 있었다.
또 하나는 내 딸이 이 iphone을 set-up해주면서 자기의 Id.와 email을 사용했기 때문에 '카톡'에 가입하려면 딸의 password를 사용해야 해서 오늘 만나서 그것을 받아낼 작정이다.
전화로 한국사람들과도 무료로 통화할 수도 있다고. 이 회사는 한국의 김범수란 사람이 발명한 것인데 지금은 '말레지아'와 인도네시아에 까지 파급되어 국제적 통신수단으로 발전하고 있다고 한다. 참고로 위키페디아에서 설명한 것은 인용하면 다음과 같다.
Kakao Corp is the company behind KakaoTalk (its platform and flagship app), and was founded in 2010 by Kim Bum-soo, the former CEO of NHN Corporation (founder of Hangame, which merged with Naver.com to create NHN).[6] Kakao Corp. is based in Seoul, South Korea, and Jae-Beom (JB) Lee and Sirgoo Lee are the current Co-CEOs.
In 2013, Kakao Corp. generated revenue of approximately $200M (USD) through gaming, digital content, mobile commerce and its marketing channels for brands and celebrities.[7]
Kakao Corp. was named a "Top Developer" on Google's Android Market. and KakaoTalk was chosen as the No.1 Free SMS App by Cnet.[8]
According to a December 2013 AppAnnie report, Kakao is also the world’s third top publisher by monthly revenue in Google Play. Kakao Corp. is the #1 publisher for iOS and Google Play in South Korea, and KakaoTalk is the #1 app for iOS and Google Play revenue in South Korea.[9] KakaoTalk was nominated for the Most Innovative Mobile App Award at the Global Mobile Awards 2014.[10] Kakao Corp. agreed to buy Daum Communications Corp, to cut costs and save time to jump-start growth and gain a listing in Seoul, South Korea.[11]
Kakao Corp’s full suite of apps include: KakaoTalk, KakaoStory, KakaoMusic, KakaoGroup, KakaoHome, KakaoPlace, KakaoAlbum, KakaoPage, KakaoStyle, KakaoAgit.[12]
In May 26, 2014, Kakao Corp. announced that it has decided to merge with Daum Communications through a stock swap. Once the two firms are combined, a new tech giant is expected to debut, with about 3 trillion won ($2.9 billion) market capitalization, posing an apparent threat to Naver, the nation's biggest portal company.[13]
현재 English, Korean, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German, Malay, Arabic 으로 통신할 수가 있단다.
나로선 구태어 열린마당에서 시원치 않은 사람들과 싱갱이할 필요가 없어지는 고로, 멀지 않아 이곳의 활동을 중지할 수도 있다고 본다. 물론 해보고 나서 할 말이겠지만.