LINE announces 460% growth in user base and new Video Call feature

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – August 22, 2013 – LINE Corporation, owner and operator of the free calling and messaging app, “LINE”, announced that it has achieved 230 million registered users worldwide, representing a 460% growth over the last year. This announcement was made at its second annual business conference, “Hello, Friends in Tokyo 2013”, at MAIHAMA Amphitheater (Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture) yesterday.

In addition to the great milestone, the number of messages sent daily through LINE has also increased by 440% from the previous year, surpassing 7 billion messages to date. LINE’s latest usage statistics, progress of its platformization and global expansion efforts, future strategies and upcoming services were also unveiled at the conference.

Among the new services and features announced are as below:

• Video Call feature: to be launched globally in Fall 2013

LINE will be adopting a new Video Call feature in addition to its voice call and messaging functions. Users can enjoy free video calls on supported devices (iPhone, Android and Windows and Mac PCs) and have face-to-face conversations with their distant lovers, family, and friends at any time.

• LINE MUSIC: to be launched in 2013 (Japan) 

“LINE MUSIC” is a music streaming service that enables users to purchase music of all genres within the LINE app, including J-pop, K-pop, and of course Western music. Songs purchased through LINE MUSIC can be shared with the user’s LINE friends, proposing a brand new way to enjoy music that is only possible through LINE. This service will be launched first in Japan, with a global rollout following shortly.

• LINE MALL: to be launched in Fall 2013 (Japan)

“LINE MALL” is an e-commerce (electronic commerce) service optimized for the smartphone. It has been structured so all actions can be performed efficiently within the app itself. LINE MALL will deliver a revolutionary shopping experience, in which anybody can buy and sell anytime or anywhere as long as they have a smartphone.

• LINE GAME

The following titles will be released starting Fall 2013:
- LINE FISH ISLAND (Developer: NHN PlayArt Corporation)
- LINE IRONSLAM (Developer: WeMade Entertainment)
- LINE Let’s Golf!(TBC) (Developer: Gameloft)
- LINE MapleStory Village (Developer: NEXON Co., Ltd.)
- LINE Modoo Marble (Developer: CJ E&M Corp. & N2Play)
- LINE Nutlings Tournament (Developer: Boomlagoon Limited)
- LINE Puzzle Bobble (Developer: Taito Corporation)
- LINE Rainbow Chaser (Developer: NHN&OrangeCrew)
- LINE REVENANT GATE (Developer: NHN PlayArt Corporation)
- LINE Shake Spears! (Developer: Alawar Entertainment)
- LINE SONIC DASH (Developer: SEGA Corporation)

• LINE Web Store: to be launched in September (Japan & Taiwan)

“LINE Web Store” is an online store in which users can purchase paid LINE stickers and LINE GAME items from the web browsers on their computers or smartphones. Usability and convenience will be improved by offering users a variety of payment options besides App Store and Google Play transaction systems, such as credit cards, PayPal, carrier billing, electronic money, and more. The Web Store will be offered first in Japan and Taiwan, followed by a gradual introduction into other countries.

*Payment options available will differ by country.

LINE aims to achieve 300 million users worldwide within 2013, and will continue to enhance its services and contents and promote its global development in order to become an integral piece of lifestyle infrastructure for users all around the world.


LINE举办企业年会“Hello, Friends in Tokyo 2013”

记录一年来LINE用户基数增长了460%的成长历程
年会以相互交流为主，同时公布音乐、EC等即将推出的LINE服务及功能

LINE Corporation (总部设在东京涉谷区，董事长：森川亮) 本日在千叶县浦安市的舞浜Amphitheater举办企业年会“Hello, Friends in Tokyo 2013”。

本次年会是第二次举办，会上主要发表了LINE的市场近况、发展平台和全球业绩，并公布了今后的战略路线、以及LINE即将推出的全新服务与功能。其中提到了LINE全球用户已突破2亿3000万人（同比去年增长460%），每天的信息发送量达70多亿条（同比去年增长440%）等LINE的使用现状。

※LINE市场近况请参考附页。

以下是本次公布的LINE全新服务与功能。

■视频通话：计划于2013年秋发布（全球）

LINE在原有的语音通话和聊天功能的基础上，新增加了“视频通话功能”。在安装有iPhone/Android/PC(Windows/Mac)等操作系统的设备之间，可以进行免费的视频通话。相隔异地的亲友、恋人间，今后将可以“面对面”地进行对话了。

■LINE MUSIC：计划于年内发布（日本国内）

“LINE MUSIC”是一款多类型音乐的下载服务。用户通过“LINE MUSIC”购买的音乐，可以在LINE中与好友分享。除此之外，还将包含其他一些LINE独有的全新功能。本服务将先在日本国内发布，逐渐扩展到全球范围，旨在为用户提供一种别具一格的音乐体验形式。

■LINE MALL: 计划于2013年秋发布（日本国内）
“LINE MALL”是一款专为智能手机提供的EC（电子商务）服务。为了实现能在应用内完成全部交易步骤，我们对整体结构进行了重新定义。做到了只要您拥有这款应用程序，无论身处何时何地，您都可以轻松愉快地进行商品交易。

■LINE GAME

以下是计划将于2013年秋季依次发布的新游戏。
- LINE FISH ISLAND  (开发者: NHN PlayArt Corporation)
- LINE IRONSLAM  (开发者: WeMade Entertainment)
- LINE Let’s Golf! (TBC)  (开发者: Gameloft)
- LINE MapleStory Village  (开发者: NEXON Co., Ltd.)
- LINE Modoo Marble  (开发者: CJ E&M Corp. & N2Play)    
- LINE Nutlings Tournament  (开发者: Boomlagoon Limited)
- LINE Puzzle Bobble   (开发者: Taito Corporation)
- LINE Rainbow Chaser  (开发者: NHN&OrangeCrew)
- LINE REVENANT GATE  (开发者: NHN PlayArt Corporation)
- LINE Shake Spears!  (开发者: Alawar Entertainment)
- LINE SONIC DASH  (开发者: SEGA Corporation)

■LINE Web Store：计划于9月发布（日本・台湾）
 
您可以通过电脑或智能手机的网页浏览器在“LINE Web Store”中购买付费贴图及LINE Game中的付费商品。不仅可以使用以往的App Store/Google Play等结算方式，还可以使用信用卡、PayPal、话费结算、电子货币、点卡等更加丰富的结算方式。本服务将率先在日本、台湾发布，随后将逐渐向世界各国推行（※各国交易系统有所不同），旨在为全球的LINE用户提供更加便捷的结算方式。

LINE以2013年内全球用户突破3亿为目标，将继续充实服务内容、提升服务品质、扩展海外市场，希望LINE能够成为大家生活中的必需品。