BITBYTE CORP.

BITBYTE CORP. is a software development company established in 2018 by founder Ahn Seo-hyung. The company originated from the 'Barunmal Keypad' project, which began in 2014 to address social issues, and won awards from Samsung Electronics and the Ministry of Employment and Labor. This initial project evolved into the company's flagship product, 'PlayKeyboard', a customizable mobile keyboard application.

PlayKeyboard allows users to personalize their smartphone keyboards with themes, characters, and illustrations. A key feature is the 'Live Theme', where characters on the keyboard react to typed words. The app operates on a global scale, available in approximately 150 countries. The business model includes offering themed content through partnerships with major IP holders like Nexon, featuring characters from games such as 'MapleStory' and 'Blue Archive'. The company also incorporates an advertising technology (AdTech) component, launching a keyboard-based 'app-tech' service that allows users to earn points, which has significantly boosted revenue. Strategic partnerships, such as one with DelightRoom, have been pivotal in growing the company's advertising monetization.

Significant milestones for the company include being selected for the Samsung Electronics C-Lab Outside program, securing seed funding from SparkLabs, and being chosen for the TIPS program by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. PlayKeyboard has achieved over 2 million global downloads and secured patents for its core emoticon keyboard technology in South Korea, the US, and Japan.

Keywords: mobile keyboard, customizable keyboard, AdTech, content platform, intellectual property monetization, character licensing, interactive keyboard, app-tech, global application, PlayKeyboard, user engagement, mobile utility, software development, Android apps, iOS apps, in-app advertising, strategic partnerships