NateOn removes ads under the motto "Focus on dialogue,,,,,, only goes the opposite way to KakaoTalk

According to industry sources on the 19th, Nate Communications announced that it has decided to remove ads from its mobile app, and that the full-page ads that used to appear as pop-ups when launching the mobile app have been discontinued since the 26th of last month. The banner ads at the top of the Messages tab have also been replaced by 'NateOn User Manual' guidance content since the 2nd. NateComs has adopted NateOn's motto as 'Focus solely on conversations' and is working to reduce user fatigue and restore the messenger's core functionality. Recently, KakaoTalk has been expanding the 'Friends' tab to Instagram and After switching to the same feed-style format and adding short-form spaces to expand the advertising area, the reorganization faced user backlash,,, which is interpreted as a strategy to differentiate itself from KakaoTalk. In fact, KakaoTalk users staged a boycott, and NateOn, They also switched to alternative messengers like Line and Telegram,,, where Nateon also benefited from the reflected effect. According to Mobile Index, after the announcement of KakaoTalk's overhaul on the 23rd of last month, Nateon's app downloads, which previously stood at about 500, surged to 970 downloads on the 25th, 11,647 on the 26th, and 22,447 on the 27th. An industry insider analyzed, "While Kakao was seeking to diversify its revenue, Nateon responded with 'zero ads,'" adding, " It is a strategy to attract users and reclaim the reputation of the golden age once called the 'national messenger.' It is a strategy." He continued, "Removing ads is a symbolic measure that prioritizes user experience, but if the long-term retention rate is low, losses could only grow," and predicted, "Whether Nateon can reclaim its glory as an 'ad-free messenger'   for the nation depends on the future completeness of its service." If the fleeting interest fades, the effectiveness of ad removal may be limited, but in fact, the number of NateOn app installations peaked at 22,447 on the 27th of last month,,,   Recently, the number has dropped to around 1,000 per day.