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Kakao Page launched as online marketplace for digital content

Kakao Page is an online distribution platform where content creators can sell their music, videos, e-books and other digital content to Kakao Talk’s market of 70 million users.

Even with the popularity of free apps and content meant for desktops and mobile devices, e-commerce platforms are optimistic that there will be a market for paid content online. The makers of Kakao Talk have announced plans for such a content marketplace, and the company has recently launched Kakao Page. Kakao Page targets the creative type, which includes artists, writers, musicians and other such individuals and groups. The platform can be used to sell and market songs, video and e-books to other users within the Kakao platform. Kakao CEO Brian Kim says Kakao Page is not just an online repository of digital content. “People upload content to places like the App Store and Google Play but the content doesn’t get any exposure. Kakao Page is a content distribution platform. Anyone can make content and Kakao Page puts it out there for everyone to see,” he said. VentureSquare notes that the online platform might face a bit of a challenge at first, given the lack of free content. However, Kakao is optimistic it will reach its goal of 1 million profit-earning content creators within three years. The platform itself is free to access, although the company plans to take a percentage cut from content sales. The launch of these new platforms is testament to the idea that the South Korean Kakao Talk can actually find a good business model for its mobile messaging app. The network has since grown to 70 million users, and growth has been fueled by the addition of a gaming platform, as well as “Chatting Plus,” which enables game and app developers to integrate Kakao Talk into their apps and platforms.