Continuing trend to better UCC services from text based service, combined with high quality multimedia communication system, portals are producing variety of UCC service products.

Naver leading UCC with Video Streaming - Photo - Animations
Due to high popularity of UCC based multimedia, more and more services are popping up. Faster internet speeds with cellphones, digital cameras and convergence of various digital devices are making internet users to switch from basic text interchanges to variety of multimedia mediums, naturally joining the UCC services offered by the portals.

In domestic Korea's case, this continuing trend is producing variety of UCC multimedia services like photo and video streaming by the major portals from last year and more related new services will be hitting the market soon. And Korea's No.1 portal Naver is leading the way.

Naver, In addition to their popular video service 'Naver Play'(linked to blog) and 'Naver Boom' which provides latest trends and issues, also introduced animation drawing service (with a click of mouse) 'Naver Toon'(co-developed with 'Nexon') as industry first recently.

Particularly, prelude to soon to be offered new UCC photo service 'Naver Mosaic'(community participation concept) Naver started mosaic service just in time for the opening of 'World Cup' event to promote Korean national team which is receiving positive responses from public. This mosaic service is offered so all kinds of UCC photos and images can be uploaded to be enjoyed in their particular interest. The finishing image will be made up of bits and pieces of all UCC upload.

Daum - Video stream cafe, SK Comms.- Huge upload space to be offered
Aiming to be leading media portal, Daum in addition to introducing image based community service ‘Pie?last October, offers multimedia services TV Pot and Blog Video streaming for the internet users to upload and share their creations very easily. Not only that but there's also 'multi Kit' beta service which provides one stop total picture and video editing and management program.

To further improve their multimedia UCC service, Daum will add Video stream cafe within their community site this June. An affiliate form Daum said "We plan to link the video cafe to our TV Pot service to form a small broadcasting station like cafe when it opens. And the beta service 'Multikit' will also be up and running for regular service. We're also preparing to include video uploads from the cellphones."

SK Communications also beefed up their services. With their 18 million individual based Cyworld's Mini-Homepy members added new UCC video upload corner (unlimited/up to 5 min long) with further plans to link 'HappyClik' program with the UCC video service to raise the profitability. Also from its Nate.com site's 'Tong' service, they plan to offer uploads up to six 10 minute length files.

Yahoo focusing on World Cup UCC, Paran on Comic UCC
Yahoo!Korea opened multimedia search engine service in October last year. This is an upload tool service offered to internet users to upload their own video files. Since the opening of this service, the number of uploads surpassed to 55,000. In addition, it's been offering 'Image Box' a local image UCC service (in addition to Yahoo Photo) since two years ago.

Paran.com also offers their UCC video service, 'Mbox' It's an improved wire/wireless service allowing users to view all contents from paran.com and KTF Fimm site. It can be access from cellphone currently and it will soon be available using any Wi-Bro, HSDPA, and IPTV environments.

In addition, the paran.com is launching a comic content service, 'FunTV'(beta). This service is different from UCC services offered by others. Its focus is in comic entertainment exclusively. It will allow users to participate using wired and wireless devices utilizing the existing Mbox features.

Multimedia UCC, providing future earnings
High development of internet information communications has brought new wave of UCC service products by competing portals. With auctions and open markets and profit taking advertisement site, Google's Adsense, continuing improvements in UCC contents and fewer gaps between consumers and producers all play role in planting future of lucrative business opportunities in UCC multimedia service.

Yahoo! Korea's chief director Byung-Suk Kim said "We see continued growth in number of users with new high-tech devices. The TV station programs as the main video service contents has come and gone. The net users are now able to easily upload not only video clips but photos and even animations now. We should see a development of much bigger UCC market in near future!"