SK Telecom announced that it will terminate the social metaverse service "ifland" effective March 31, 2024.
Launched in 2021, ifland will conclude after about four years. SK Telecom plans to fully refund all paid purchases by the termination date and will assist users with data backups upon request. Refund application methods will be announced later through the ifland app and website.
This decision by SK Telecom is interpreted as a move to concentrate more resources in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) with the goal of transitioning to a "global AI corporation." The company noted that it will accelerate its leap to become a global AI corporation by integrating the 3D content production and global service capabilities accumulated through operating the metaverse service with AI.
Additionally, there is a trend among local telecommunications companies to scale back or terminate their metaverse businesses. KT terminated its "Metaround" and "Geniverse" services this year, while LG Uplus is maintaining its AI-based virtual campus "Uverse," but the official launch schedule for the virtual office platform "Metaslab" is yet to be determined.