November 21, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Korea’s largest mobile carrier SK Telecom on Jan. 15 launched a next-generation messaging service, called Rich Communication Services, which be first available on Samsung Electronics’ flagship models Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Based on technical standards set by GSMA, a global association of telecom operators, the service allows users to send text messages, images and videos freely among mobile users of different mobile carriers.

With SKT’s new messaging service, subscribers can send pictures and short videos, which are 5MB or less, without hindering their data plan. They can also exchange files up to 100MB via the messaging app -- in this case the corresponding amount of mobile data will be used.

During a promotional period for the new service until June, SKT subscribers using Galaxy S9 and S9+ can exchange files up to 100MB in size without spending their allotted cellular data.

Users can also participate in a group chat, as in most mobile messenger apps, such as KakaoTalk and Line, check whether their messages are read or not by receivers, send mobile gift coupons and transfer a small amount of money.

SKT said it is currently in talks with other telecom carriers here -- KT and LG Uplus -- and also LG Electronics to incorporate RCS in more handset devices.

The new messaging service, when widely used, is expected to pose a challenge to mobile messenger firms Kakao and Line, as well as Apple, which provides similar messaging services like iMessage and FaceTime.

Taking part in the CES trade show early this month in Las Vegas, SKT CEO Park Jung-ho said RCS could help Android-based phones like Samsung’s Galaxy gain a competitive edge over Apple’s iPhones.

“When all three mobile carriers in Korea jointly offer the service, there will be 50 million mobile subscribers using it,” he said.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)