Popularity of Line app soars

Line, an instant-messaging application for smart phones and personal computers, has succeeded in increasing users of its mobile messenger, which includes a social-network service, by 1,150 per cent in less than a year to 10.2 million in Thailand.
“Thai Line users are very active. More than half of users use Line every day and Thailand is one of the top three Line users, after Japan and Taiwan,” Lee Jin-woo, senior manager of Line’s business office, said yesterday.
The company entered Thailand last December and counted fewer than a million users in January. It now expects to set up a new office in Thailand and provide more than 10 new application services.
In the next step, it will invite local game developers to join and develop their games and applications for the global market.
The firm says it wants to provide localised content. It will develop its apps and services to support multiple devices, platforms and social networks with more fun and easier access.
“Line now works across operating systems including iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows,” Lee said. “About 10.2 million users come from mobile phones, with 55 per cent based on Android, 40 per cent on iOS and 5 per cent on BlackBerry and Windows. We have a plan to provide Line to support any other device with another OS.”
Line serves more than 82.4 million users in 231 countries.