KakaoTalk Launches Open Chat

KakaoPhilippines Corp. has announced the launch of Open Chat, aKakao Talk feature that allows users to chat with others at the click of a link. All chat rooms in Open Chathave designated URLs, which users can share on social media and other websites. Any KakaoTalk user can enter the chat room without providing their mobile phone numbers or KakaoTalk IDs. Group chats are then easier to start because users who have the link can join the conversation; no need to add people one by one.

Human relationships offline are not equal. There are mutual friends whom users are comfortable sharing their mobile numbers or profiles with, and then there are complete strangers. Kakao provides a middle level of interaction with this new feature. Open Chat connects users through links; as opposed to regular chats,which require the exchange of phone numbers. Open Chat allows users to have more control over their friends list and gives them a secure alternative: to chat with whomever they need without having to divulge personal information.

KakaoTalk users have continuously requested for “easier and more convenient ways to chat with new friends” and “ways to limit or control who [they] reveal [their] profiles to.” Open Chat wasintroduced to address these issues.

The new feature is intended for those who are seeking fast and convenient ways of communication. People with the same interests can also converse with each other on Open Chat through links posted on social media and other websites. Students, in particular, can use it forgroup work in classes, extracurricular activities, study sessions,and more.They can also share an Open Chat linkat online marketplaces instead of exposing personal information, such as phone numbers and IDs, when selling or purchasing second-hand items.

Open Chat can also serve as an interactive comment section for news providers, bloggers, and readers to discuss an article or blog entry without giving out personal details. News providers and bloggers only need to add an Open Chat link at the end of the post.

Open Chats can be createdby pressing on the floating ‘+’ button on the Chats tab and selecting ‘Open Chat.’The host can then input his or her chat identity and set up a chat room. The host can choose a type of chat (1:1 chat or group chat), select a background photo, and simply press ‘OK.’ The Open Chat link will then be live and ready to go.

Open Chat can accommodate up to 500 users in a single chat room. The chat room’s host can designate the maximum number of users that can participate in any given Open Chat.

Open Chat makes it easy to begin conversations with people who are not on each other’s KakaoTalkfriends lists. It also alleviates users’ concerns about exposing their personal details on messenger services,” explained Paolo Pineda, CEO of Kakao Philippines Corp. "The real value of this feature is that it provides our users with privacy and control over their friends list, while connecting with other people."

KakaoTalk’s Open Chat feature will be available to Filipino users starting October 11th, on both iOS and Android. Users can also enjoy KakaoTalk’s other features like Secret Group Chat and Star Chat. For more information, please visit facebook.com/kakaotalkph.

Infographic: KakaoTalk Myth - Four common myth about messaging Apps

Mobile apps are a big reason why people seem to be glued to their smart phones - whether this is to play Candy Crush, check emails or chat with friends. Plus, with all the affordable data plans and reliable Internet connection, using these apps has become so much easier and convenient.

Some of the more popular options are mobile messaging apps. Unfortunately, many have made assumptions and related the use of these apps with their smartphone’s performance. Not to worry, the latest KakaoTalk infographic will shed light on the four common myths about messaging apps.

With these myths debunked, don’t be afraid to use mobile chat apps like KakaoTalk and get connected with the rest of the world.  To find out more about KakaoTalk in the Philippines, visit https://www.facebook.com/kakaotalkph. Download KakaoTalk for Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Asha http://www.kakaotalk.com.ph/ . 

Catch good luck this Year of the Sheep with Kakao Talk infographic

To those born in the Year of the Sheep. Let KakaoTalk Chinese New Year Infographic on how to Catch Good luck this Year of the Sleep be your guide this Lunar New Year!

Make the best of the long weekends with Kakao Talk tips

The government has declared 8 long weekends caused by holiday this 2015. Getting to know when these long weekends will fall is important so you can plan your vacation, or staycation, ahead. With this, KakaoTalk, one of the leading messaging application in the world, comes up with an infographic that pins down these long weekends and gives you tips on how you plan these days ahead.

Kakao Talk features the top downloaded game SundayToz’s "Anipang"

Anipang for Kakao capturing the hearts of Filipinos

The summer heat may be over, but the popularity of SundayToz’s Anipang for Kakao seems to be reaching its apex. The puzzle game available on KakaoTalk’s mobile social platform is climbing up the charts and ranking among the top downloaded games in various app stores.

Anipang was featured last month on Pinoy Big Brother All In. In the episode, current housemates took on eliminated cast members in a heated game of Anipang for Kakao, with the winners receiving limited edition character items. With user interest in the game high, Kakao Philippines made Anipang a featured app within KakaoTalk for both Android and iOS so user could gain easy access.

Anipang is already a blockbuster hit in Korea, where it has been downloaded more than 30 million times. Approximately 80% of all smartphone users in Korea have played Anipang, making it the undisputed no. 1 game on mobile platform. Many of the country’s top stars, including G-Dragon of Big Bang, Lee Byung-hun, as well as members of TVXQ and SNSD, have expressed their love for Anipang and its characters.

A major part of Anipang’s appeal is the ability to send and receive hearts with other KakaoTalk friends. Hearts function as play tokens within the game, and with Anipang being the perfect game to enjoy with friends and family, exchanging heart messages has emerged as huge cultural phenomenon among players since it debuted two years ago.

“Kakao Game is one of the successful aspects of KakaoTalk’s various social platform services, with around 520 million subscribers worldwide,” said Jean Lee, Head of Kakao Philippines. “The key reason for its popularity is the fact that you can compete and compare scores with other KakaoTalk users, making it a very social, connective experience. Anipang is certainly a great example of this, and we’re glad Filipinos are embracing this great game,” Lee added.

For more information on KakaoTalk’s features and offerings, visit www.kakaotalk.com.ph/

KakaoTalk launches Search Chat feature on Mac

KakaoTalk, one of the leading mobile messengers in the world, has announced exciting product updates for its subscribers across the globe!  KakaoTalk is now available for Mac users worldwide and is now offering “Search Chat” – a brand new feature that will be available on the desktop client, KakaoTalk Windows.

KakaoTalk for Mac
For the first time, KakaoTalk's desktop chat is now available to all Mac users. The beta version of KakaoTalk for Mac is available in English and Korean, with all the basic messaging features that KaTalkers love and rely on: full sync between mobile & Mac, friends list, chat rooms, emoticons, ability to receive files in any format (Word, Excel, photos, videos, etc.) and more. More features and updates (including search and the ability to send files) will be coming soon to Mac.

Search Chat

With "Search chat," KakaoTalk users on Windows PC can quickly search any conversation by keyword and find all relevant messages sent/received within the chatroom in reverse chronological order. Instead of having to scroll back through past conversations, the new "Search chat" feature brings KaTalkers right to the conversation that they are looking for. All search is based on the data cached on the client, and makes "Search chat" instant and secure.

Search is available immediately for anyone who uses KakaoTalk for Windows PC -- which is free and available for everyone in the world in English, Korean and Japanese. The "Search chat" feature will also be available on KakaoTalk mobile apps later this year.


KakaoTalk’s desktop apps also enable users to share a variety of Mac and PC-compatible files, including images, video, audio, documents, and compressed files of 57 different file formats.  Users can send and receive files on KakaoTalk for Windows, and can receive files on KakaoTalk for Mac (sending capabilities coming soon).

KakaoTalk for Mac can be found in the Mac App Store.

Take your KakaoFriends Look-Alike Photo and Win Prizes!

Who is your Kakao-Look-Alike?

“Take your KakaoFriends look-alike photo, and win an iPhone 5c or iPad Mini!”

The KakaoTalk messaging app invites users to become lucky winners of iPhone 5c or iPad Mini through a fun, easy Facebook competition. Users need to simply
 ‘like’ the KakaoTalk Philippines Facebook page, choose a KakaoFriends sticker, take a look-alike picture and post it up on their page with #KakaoTalkPH and #KakaoLookAlike hash tags.

The competition continues for two months until April 30th, and a total of 16 winners will be selected for the prizes, with two winners being announced at each week.

KakaoFriends are characters that are exclusively available on KakaoTalk as stickers and animated emoticons. The seven characters—Apeach the peach, Muji the yellow radish in rabbit costume, Con the mysterious crocodile, Frodo the chic dog, Neo the confident cat, JayG the shy mole, and Tube the two-faced duck—with their distinctive personalities and a myriad of emotions characters add fun and joy to users chatting experience. In particular, the animated emoticons of these characters add the ability to express deeper emotions that can’t be easily conveyed in words.

Kakao said, “KakaoFriends emoticons offer a way to express emotions that can’t easily be expressed in words. We hope this contest will help familiarize our users with the hundreds of emotions that our KakaoFriends characters represent, and eventually be able to enjoy a fuller and more exciting chatting experience.”
More information on the contest can be found at KakaoTalk Philippines official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kakaotalkph.


Get a chance to win one out of two iPhone 5c or iPad Minis every week by following these super easy steps:

1. ‘Like’ the official KakaoTalkPH Facebook page: www.facebook.com/kakaotalkph. ‘Like’ this page and get the fastest and most reliable updates on Kakao’s latest.

2. Choose a KakaoFriends emoticon to imitate, and take a look-alike photo of yourself. Is it the blushing Jay-G, Frodo confessing his love, Muzi throwing two thumbs up or Apeach exercising? How about Neo with a dozen shopping bags, or Tube blowing fire in anger? Whoever it is, observe carefully and become the character itself! Take that photo, and check to make sure that yours truly stand out!

3. Paste the emoticon you imitated on your photo. Let us know which emoticon you chose and channel this character to the best of your abilities.

4. Put a catchy caption with your KakaoTalk ID and use the hash tags #KakaoTalkPH and #KakaoLookAlike. Be creative and show us your wit. Come up with a catchy caption that will totally describe your photo or better yet, your relationship with KakaoTalk.

5. Upload it on KakaoTalkPH Facebook page. Share it with us and with the whole cyberspace. Be proud and let your fellow Kakao users see your photo.


About Kakao Corp.
Kakao Corporation is the provider of KakaoTalk, a mobile messaging application and global mobile social platform based in South Korea. Since the launch of its app in 2010, Kakao has solidified its position as a leader in the mobile industry, expanding its service beyond messaging to a social platform encompassing games, digital contents, marketing, commerce and more. KakaoTalk currently has more than 140 million registered users from 230 countries, and billions of messages are delivered every day in form of text, photos, video and voice. As a global, cross-platform application, it is available in 14 languages, on Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Bada, Windows Phone and Nokia Asha. Kakao’s mission is to build a symbiotic mobile ecosystem at the global scale, offering a mobile social platform that provides win-win solutions for users and third-party partners alike. For more information, visit  www.kakaotalk.com.ph/