Daum Communications, the nation’s second-largest Internet portal, has introduced a new service called “Daum store view” which enables people to view inside registered stores online.

Store view shows a 360-degree panorama view of inside the store by clicking air tags on the street view.

This means people can virtually experience the interior, seating, layout, menu and prices of the selected store.

The launch of the new service takes place as Daum, one of the country’s top portals, foresees the location-based services as becoming a major service due to the increasing use of smartphones and the launch of fourth-generation LTE networks next year.

“The map-based store view system from Daum is the first of its kind. I think this will become life contents in our future,” said Jeon Jeong-hwan, a director of the new platform service at Daum.

Store view will also soon allow people to look inside hotels, hospitals, shopping malls, movie theaters and even cultural heritage sites, according to company officials. The number of stores up for now is around 500, but Daum expects to have about 20,000 stores by the first half next year.

The company will link the service with local search advertisements, social commerce sites and internet coupons. Daum also plans to provide store views on multiple platforms such as PCs, smartphones, tablets and IPTV.

“Store view is a paradigm shift for the map. Search engines have been making rapid progress in new mapping services,” Jeon said.

By Jung Hee-young (Intern reporter) (jennijung88@gmail.com)