NAVER : Z and Softbank to Launch First Virtual Branch of Japanese Telecommunications Carrier on Metaverse

- Softbank expands customer contact point to ZEPETO to provide 24/7 support for customers

- The virtual Softbank shop will sell products in partnership with online stores and it will later offer coupons that can be used in offline shops

- ZEPETO delivers expanded experience for customers and users to familiarize with brands both on virtual and real worlds

2022-06-24

NAVER Z, affiliate of NAVER Corp. (KRX: 035420) and SoftBank announced today that they will open 'Softbank Shop in ZEPETO' on Asia's No.1 metaverse platform ZEPETO, which has more than 300 million global users.

At its metaverse shop, Softbank will provide 24/7 customer support via chat and avatars. From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., avatars of Softbank crew will respond directly to customer inquiries during SoftBank's business hours at offline branches, and during the remaining hours, AI Bots will support various consultation services in ZEPETO.

In addition, through SoftBank-branded photo booths and items for avatars, ZEPETO users will be provided with the familiar offline SoftBank sales experience in the virtual space. Users can receive product descriptions from Softbank crews in ZEPETO and purchase on online shops. 'Softbank Shop in ZEPETO' will also give coupons for use at offline shops.

ZEPETO is also planning to partner with SoftBank, Wi-Mobile's official online shop, and SoftBank Selection Online Shop, which sells accessories and IoT products, to provide exclusive experiences to customers.

Launched in August 2018, ZEPETO has become the top metaverse platform used by millennials and Generation Z. In 2020, it launched a content creation feature called ZEPETO Studio to support creators who design and sell various virtual items, including avatar clothes. Since then, ZEPETO Studio has established a creator economy that boasts 2.6 million creators, with 150 million units of creator-made items sold for KRW 30 billion in total transaction volume as of June 2022.

ZEPETO is also leading the trend of collaborating with global fashion and beauty brands, such as Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Nike and Dior Beauty as well as global entertainers and pop stars, such as BTS, Selena Gomez, BLACKPINK and NMIXX. It is also working with various global companies, including Starbucks, Visa, Hyundai Motor Company and Samsung.

"ZEPETO is one of the few platforms that is capable of meeting customers' needs instantly," said Kim Heebin, leader at NAVER Z Japan. "We will further develop ZEPETO for users to enjoy extended brand experiences in virtual reality that are just like in the real world."

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