June 05, 2012 10:24
Korean mobile messaging app KakaoTalk on Monday began free broadband or m-VoIP services here. Smartphone users can now send text messages or make calls for free if they install the app on their phones.
Most of the 47 million KakaoTalk subscribers at home and abroad, including 36 million Korean users, welcomed the free phone service, but mobile service providers are upset, claiming it would overload their networks.
KakaoTalk in a press release said it will start test-runs for the Internet telephony service for mobiles, called VoiceTalk.
KakaoTalk started free services for iPhone users first, while users of android smartphones can start using it Tuesday, the press release said.
KakaoTalk started free phone services in Japan in February and expanded them around the world except Korea on May 25. It will launch full-fledged services here once it has checked call quality, the press release added.
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