WhatsApp has serious competition in regards to Kakao Talk
Popular mobile messaging application WhatsApp has attracted a great deal of attention recently due to its acquisition by Facebook. The prominent social network spent $19 billion to purchase the application and has been working to incorporate the application into its overarching social structure. WhatsApp already boasted of a large user base but with Facebook’s backing, this user base is expected to grow exponentially in the future. While WhatsApp may become more popular in the months to come, it does have a competitor that could destabilize its growth.
Application aims to leverage mobile commerce to gain support
Kakao Talk is another messaging application that has become very popular in Asia. The application has more than 133 million registered users in South Korea and is currently preparing launch an initial public offering being valued at more than $2 billion. What Kakao Talk may offer that WhatsApp does not is the ability to allow users to participate in mobile commerce. Using the application, people can connect with brands more effectively, taking advantage of special deals being offered by retailers and online merchants.
Mobile gaming supported through Kakao Talk
Kakao Talk also boasts of a gaming feature. Mobile gaming has become quite a lucrative aspect of the game industry as a whole. Providing consumers with a platform that has strong social interaction features and that can support mobile games could help Kakao Talk surpass WhatsApp in terms of popularity. Similar platforms have managed to find success with type of approach. The WeChat application, which had initially been a messaging app, is now on its way to becoming one of the most prominent mobile commerce platforms in the world.
Demand for mobile services is on the rise
As people become more reliant on their mobile devices, the demand for comprehensive mobile services is growing. While applications that are meant to serve a single purpose are likely to remain popular well into the future, people are beginning to show more interest in applications that can serve multiple purposes at the same time. These applications have shown that they are able to accommodate the interests of a new generation of mobile users.
