[BizHanKook] It has been confirmed that Kakao filed a trademark application for the name 'Face Room' last month. Currently, KakaoTalk offers a video call feature called 'FaceTalk' to general chat users, while it only operates 'Voice Room,' which allows for voice-based conversations, in OpenChat. This has sparked speculation that Kakao may be preparing a new feature that would allow users to communicate face-to-face within OpenChat as well.
According to the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS) on the 27th, Kakao filed for the 'Face Room' trademark on the 8th of last month. The product classifications were registered under Class 09 (computer software), Class 38 (telecommunications services), and Class 41 (education and entertainment services).
Kakao designated a total of 30 products and services for the trademark. These include interactive video software, computer software for internet chatting, computer application software for voice messaging, wired and wireless voice/video/data communication solution services, voice chat services, and mobile chat services. All these items are related to real-time communication features utilizing voice and video.
Previously, in 2022, Kakao introduced 'Voice Room,' a voice-based conversation service, to KakaoTalk OpenChat. Voice Room is a feature that allows OpenChat room users to engage in real-time voice conversations. Currently, while KakaoTalk supports both 'VoiceTalk' (voice calls) and 'FaceTalk' (video calls) in general chat rooms, it does not provide video call functions in OpenChat.
Kakao is focusing on expanding KakaoTalk from a simple messenger into a platform that combines content and social features. Following its major strategy last year to transform KakaoTalk into a 'super app,' the company revamped OpenChat into an interest-based community. It now allows users to view popular conversations in a feed format without entering individual chat rooms and continue discussions on specific topics via comments.
This year, the maximum number of participants in an OpenChat room was increased from 3,000 to 4,000, and a comment feature within chats was added. The platform appears to be broadening the role of KakaoTalk beyond conversations among acquaintances to a space where users with shared interests can gather and communicate. If a video conversation feature is added, the communication methods in OpenChat could expand from text and voice to include video.
Kakao filed a trademark for its integrated paid subscription service, 'Kakao Membership,' last month and began a pilot operation on the 1st of this month. This month, it also filed for the trademark 'Kanvas,' a tool for creating customized AI agents, and unveiled the service at the developer conference 'if kakao 2026.' Regarding this, a Kakao official stated, "Trademark applications are filed for business planning or to secure ideas in advance, and there is nothing specific we can comment on at this time."