(Photo= Yonhap news)

 

[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Jisun] Google's video streaming platform, YouTube, has maintained its position as the number one mobile application (app) in the domestic market for eight consecutive months in terms of user numbers. Additionally, YouTube Music has performed well in the music streaming sector, posing a threat to local music apps, further expanding Google's presence in the market.

According to Mobile Index data from mobile big data company IGAWorks, YouTube's app (Android + iOS) recorded 45,808,803 monthly active users (MAU) last month, securing the top spot. The second and third positions were taken by domestic platforms KakaoTalk (45,004,079 users) and Naver (43,087,420 users), respectively.

Since December of last year, YouTube has consistently held the number one position in the domestic market for eight months. In addition to YouTube, Google's Chrome browser and Google portal app have also consistently ranked within the top five, demonstrating their strength. Last month, Google Chrome recorded 36,766,463 MAU, and the Google portal app recorded 34,309,901 MAU, ranking fourth and fifth, respectively.

Google has also dominated the music streaming sector. Last month, YouTube Music recorded 7,261,938 MAU, surpassing Kakao's Melon (6,894,883 users). After surrendering the top spot in the music app market to YouTube in December of last year, Melon briefly regained the number one position in January and February, only to lose it again to YouTube Music starting in March. However, it has been pointed out that Google's growth was accelerated by offering YouTube Music for free to subscribers of the paid YouTube Premium service. The Korea Fair Trade Commission is reportedly investigating Google over allegations of "bundling" YouTube Music with its premium service, and has sent a review report to Google while discussing the potential for penalties and their severity.

In the search sector, Naver is enhancing the search experience by integrating generative AI services, such as "CUE:", into its unified search platform and providing personalized content services. Kakao is experimenting with incorporating AI into KakaoTalk. One such feature, introduced in December of last year, allows users to summarize conversations and change the tone of their messages using AI, which quickly garnered over 1.5 million users within a month.

In the music platform sector, Melon has introduced "EQ AI Master," an AI that automatically applies optimal sound effects by analyzing the characteristics of music tracks, into its mobile app. Genie Music has launched an AI-based music curation service called "Quick Selection."

 

 

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