Kakao released their desktop version of KakaoMail, which works in a web browser or with your favorite email client.
It also integrates with the KakaoTalk chat app. In fact it's already built into the app, and a special chatbot called Jordi will ping you when an important email arrives.
Here are some images to give you an idea of how the service works. I didn't bother setting it up myself, so no real original content here. But it should be enough to let you decide whether you want to try it or not.
There is no seperate app for Kakao Mail. It's built into the KakaoTalk chat app in the overflow section along with all the other icons for other Kakao services.
The image below shows you the mailbox link, the inbox it takes you to, and a sample of the alerts from the Jordi bot. Jordi's notifications appear exactly like a normal KakaoTalk chat room, but you can't simply reply KakaoTalk style to them. The bot gives you a button to press to take you directly to the email.
Here's an upclose sample of what Jordi's alerts look like. It's a basic chat bubble with the subject line, sender, and a quick link to open the email:
Here's what it looks like to read an email.
And here's a more realistic view of what your inbox will look like. Notice that there are a variety of premade categories on top, into which KakaoMail will automatically sort your emails depending on their content (unread, sent, shopping, bills, social, etc.) similar to how Google does the default G-mail inbox sorting.
Whether or not Jordi will alert you can be set in the settings. Important mail only, all mail, no alerts. Important emails, aka "Interested Friends," can be determined automatically by interaction but also by tapping the little "important friend" button next to a sender's name.
KakaoMail now has a web app available at https://mail.kakao.com that is pretty sleek and minimalist. It includes all the features you expect: address book, spam filter, folders, etc.
If you already have a Kakao account, you can login there with it and set up your new @kakao.com email address. Note that this will likely be different from your Kakao account username (which is usually your primary email address) and there are no chances to change it so whatever you pick, make it a good one.
Again I haven't tried it myself but this shot gives you a fairly good look at it in action:
You can also integrate Kakao Mail service into any IMAP based client, meaning you can access it from the Windows Mail app, on your iPhone mail app, or even from inside G-mail.
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| Kakao Mail desktop version and mobile version. Image: Bloter |
It also integrates with the KakaoTalk chat app. In fact it's already built into the app, and a special chatbot called Jordi will ping you when an important email arrives.
Here are some images to give you an idea of how the service works. I didn't bother setting it up myself, so no real original content here. But it should be enough to let you decide whether you want to try it or not.
Kakao Mail on mobile
There is no seperate app for Kakao Mail. It's built into the KakaoTalk chat app in the overflow section along with all the other icons for other Kakao services.
The image below shows you the mailbox link, the inbox it takes you to, and a sample of the alerts from the Jordi bot. Jordi's notifications appear exactly like a normal KakaoTalk chat room, but you can't simply reply KakaoTalk style to them. The bot gives you a button to press to take you directly to the email.
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| KakaoMail inside KakaoTalk. Image: Eyesmag |
Here's an upclose sample of what Jordi's alerts look like. It's a basic chat bubble with the subject line, sender, and a quick link to open the email:
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| Jordi alert for new email. Images: hleecaster |
Here's what it looks like to read an email.
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| Reading an basic test email inside KakaoTalk |
And here's a more realistic view of what your inbox will look like. Notice that there are a variety of premade categories on top, into which KakaoMail will automatically sort your emails depending on their content (unread, sent, shopping, bills, social, etc.) similar to how Google does the default G-mail inbox sorting.
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| KakaoMail inbox, showing inbox categories |
Whether or not Jordi will alert you can be set in the settings. Important mail only, all mail, no alerts. Important emails, aka "Interested Friends," can be determined automatically by interaction but also by tapping the little "important friend" button next to a sender's name.
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| KakaoMail settings for Jordi notifications |
Kakao Mail on the desktop
KakaoMail now has a web app available at https://mail.kakao.com that is pretty sleek and minimalist. It includes all the features you expect: address book, spam filter, folders, etc.
If you already have a Kakao account, you can login there with it and set up your new @kakao.com email address. Note that this will likely be different from your Kakao account username (which is usually your primary email address) and there are no chances to change it so whatever you pick, make it a good one.
Again I haven't tried it myself but this shot gives you a fairly good look at it in action:
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| Kakao Mail. Image: Platum |
You can also integrate Kakao Mail service into any IMAP based client, meaning you can access it from the Windows Mail app, on your iPhone mail app, or even from inside G-mail.
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| Kakao Mail service in Windows 10 Mail. Image: https://extrememanual.net/33431 |
On whatever client you want to use, add a new POP or IMAP (if unsure, go with IMAP) account and enter this information:
As some have speculated, the endgame here isn't just to provide email service but to ensure a fully Kakao-integrated system for services like paying bills, dealing with tax and insurance documents, etc. Kakao's goal isn't just to build a messenger app with a bunch of extra features added on but a full portal and suite of services all under one roof. The addition of email is just one more way to keep you in the ecosystem and to guide you into using more of their products/services, especially if they can access your receipt and other eCommerce data history. It's par for the course though considering Google pretty much mines your data in the same way.
Already it's pretty amazing how many things run through the Kakao service these days. I get KaTalk alerts for everything from package delivery confirmations to tax refunds to speeding ticket notices (yes, really. Oops). And I don't remember ever specifically signing up for those things. They have my phone number on file and now these offices and institutions are using that knowledge to KaTalk me instead of a traditional SMS alert. Google may want RCS to fill this role worldwide, but in Korea, it's KakaoTalk that's facilitating this kind of rich messaging.
So overall it makes sense for them to add e-mail to the Kakao family and I predict their Daum Mail product will be fully folded into Kakao Mail at some point. Already old Daum accounts can be converted to Kakao accounts.
So head over to https://mail.kakao.com and claim your account.
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IMAP / SMTP
- I.D.: your new @kakao.com email
- Password: duh
- IMAP (Receiving server): imap.kakao.com
- Port / Security: 993 / SSL
- SMTP (Sending server): smtp.kakao.com
- Port / Security: 465 / SSL
orPOP3 / SMTP
- I.D.: your new @kakao.com email
- Password: duh
- POP3 (Recieving server) : pop.kakao.com
- Port / Security: 995 / SSL
- SMTP (Sending server): smtp.kakao.com
- Port / Security: 465 / SSL
Miscellaneous info
Normal attachments sent via Kakao Mail are limited to 25MB. Larger than that, and it will be stored in Kakao's temporary "big file" locker for a 30 day download period and a link will be sent instead, similar to how Naver Mail handles large attachments.
Kakao Mail includes a total of 15GB storage for your email.
Why Kakao Mail?
As some have speculated, the endgame here isn't just to provide email service but to ensure a fully Kakao-integrated system for services like paying bills, dealing with tax and insurance documents, etc. Kakao's goal isn't just to build a messenger app with a bunch of extra features added on but a full portal and suite of services all under one roof. The addition of email is just one more way to keep you in the ecosystem and to guide you into using more of their products/services, especially if they can access your receipt and other eCommerce data history. It's par for the course though considering Google pretty much mines your data in the same way.
Already it's pretty amazing how many things run through the Kakao service these days. I get KaTalk alerts for everything from package delivery confirmations to tax refunds to speeding ticket notices (yes, really. Oops). And I don't remember ever specifically signing up for those things. They have my phone number on file and now these offices and institutions are using that knowledge to KaTalk me instead of a traditional SMS alert. Google may want RCS to fill this role worldwide, but in Korea, it's KakaoTalk that's facilitating this kind of rich messaging.
So overall it makes sense for them to add e-mail to the Kakao family and I predict their Daum Mail product will be fully folded into Kakao Mail at some point. Already old Daum accounts can be converted to Kakao accounts.
So head over to https://mail.kakao.com and claim your account.
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