SK Telecom (NYSE:SKM) announced today that it will launch an All-IP-based integrated communication service called joyn.T on December 26 at 10:00 A.M.

 

joyn.T, an RCS (Rich Communication Suite) service under GSMA’s ’joyn’ brand (RCS-e standard), allows customers to use many different types of communication services in an integrated manner regardless of network and device. Its main features include Rich Call, Rich Messaging and Rich Phonebook.


-Rich Call: While during a call, users can enjoy live video sharing and send image files, location (i.e. a map marked with the sender’s location) and contact information to the person on the other end of the line. 


-Rich Messaging: For the first time in the world, the phone’s text message (SMS/MMS)   service has been integrated into an instant messaging service. Prior to joyn.T, text message and instant messaging services existed in separate forms, often causing customer inconvenience. joyn.T resolved this issue by allowing users to send/receive and manage text messages in an integrated manner, while also enjoying real-time chat (or group chat) as well as exchanging contents, stickers and Gifticons.


-Rich Phonebook: Users can check the presence of contacts in their address book in real time and update his/her own status and profile (e.g. photos, short message, SNS address, etc,). For instance, joyn.T provides users with direct links to their friends’ SNS/email addresses – including Facebook, Twitter and Cyworld – to further enrich their communication experience.


Customers holding one of 22 different types of Android OS 2.3 (Gingerbread) smartphones can use the service by downloading the free application from T Store. Moreover, further upgraded versions of Android OS will also provide the joyn.T feature. In addition, joyn.T application for the Apple iOS will be launched early next year.

 

As a service provided and operated by a mobile network operator, joyn.T boasts high reliability, stability and scalability. Supported by SK Telecom’s strong network capability, joyn.T enables customers to send/receive text messages at the speed and accuracy of the existing SMS text message service. joyn.T can also be grown into a more comprehensive service with the addition of diverse features that are developed based on the RCS standards. In particular, the company plans to add attractive features combined with communication service, including HD Voice (VoLTE), by fully leveraging its advantage of being a telecommunications company. 


SK Telecom also announced that it will integrate all its future communications services into joyn.T and continue to develop many more additional features that meet customers’ needs, thereby enriching customers’ communication experience. In this context, the company uncovered plans to launch joyn.T 2.0, an upgraded version of joyn.T, in 2013 and extend joyn.T to PC clients in the first quarter of 2013.

 

Meanwhile, as mobile carriers around the world are focusing on developing RCS services, joyn.T customers will be able to enjoy communicating with those of other carriers across the globe as early as next year. In particular, SK Telecom plans to link joyn.T with RCS services of other Korean carriers to enable all mobile customers to enjoy enriched communication.

 

Wi Eui- Seok, Senior Vice President and Head of Product Planning Office of SK Telecom said, "SK Telecom is delighted to be presenting joyn.T, an integrated communication service designed to satisfy customers’ needs and interests, thereby enriching their communication experience. Building on its innovative features like instant messaging-SMS link, we plan to add more features to shape Joyn.T into an attractive communication channel that can be enjoyed by customers irrespective of their carrier or device."