Smilegate to launch video communication service

The face on a video call screen changes into a game character, making the conversation fun.

This is the main function of P.Pool, a video communication service developed by South Korean game company Smilegate. The company will challenge the related market dominated by the American video conferencing platform Zoom.

Industry sources on Monday said Smilegate recently devised a strategy to expand its next-generation video communication service to 20- and 30-somethings including college students. Testing of the open beta service last month found that P.Pool's growth potential was high, so its main functions will get upgrades before its release early next year.

P.Pool allows users to make video calls by setting their appearance as the augmented reality (AR) avatars of popular game characters. The "pool" in its name refers to a gathering of people and "p" is the first letter of "play."

Like Zoom, P.Pool is a form of multilateral video communication but with many fun elements added. Smilegate said it customized the service for communication during private events such as games, hobbies and leisure.

"Multi-party video communication services customized for business meetings face limits in being hard, dry and tasteless," a Smilegate source said. "Our service actively uses the intellectual property rights of popular game characters to facilitate user communication in a casual atmosphere."

Smilegate also runs Stove, a platform in which players of epic and indie games like Lost Ark can participate. The company plans to expand this business's clientele beyond game players to the younger generation in their 20s and 30s.

The creator of a chat room must register as a member but an invited person can access it without logging in. This is also a free service with no time limit on use.

Ahead of P.Pool's official launch next year, Smilegate will form partnerships with four famous university clubs and promote advancement of the service. The full version will feature not only game characters but also those popular elsewhere and celebrities in other fields through AR, with technology to induce sympathy and participation to follow.

The intellectual property of famous food and beverage brands will also be used.

Write to Ji-Eun Jeong at jeong@hankyung.com