LINE mobile messaging app now has 150 million user, sets its sights on the Philippines!

LINE PLUS has announced that since the launch of its free calling and messaging platform in 2011, LINE now has 150 million users worldwide—a 50 million increase since the start of 2013. And as LINE continues to be in demand in many countries across the globe—from Japan and South Korea in Asia to Spain in Europe—the company is now looking at a new market that is full of avid mobile users: the Philippines.

“As the Texting Capital of the World, the Philippines is home to technologically-savvy people that know exactly what they want to get out of their smartphone apps. And Filipinos will get much more than simple calls and text messages with LINE,” explained Lee Jin Woo, General Manager at LINE Plus.

LINE offers both free text messaging and calls on a user-friendly interface, along with gaming and social networking features. However, it is the stickers that arguably make LINE a unique messaging tool.

Colorful, quirky, and fun, LINE’s stickers are highly expressive, showing a slew of moods and emotions from its four main characters: Brown, Cony, Moon and James. The app also offers a wide range of stickers depicting various activities as well as pop culture icons.

LINE recently released a sticker series starring K-POP phenomenon PSY.

“With LINE, you don’t even need words to be able to share thoughts and feelings, and communicate vividly; you just need to pick the right sticker that depicts what you want to say,” explained Mr. Lee.

“The app is a continuously evolving platform. We always want to provide our users with new and creative ways to get their message across, and help them connect with their family and friends in meaningful ways,” he added.

LINE has also set itself apart from other messaging platforms with its integration of social media features such as Home and Timeline along with Official Accounts. Through Home and Timeline, users can share status messages and updates for their contacts to see, similar to social networking giants Twitter and Facebook.

Official Accounts, meanwhile, allow users to directly interact with celebrities and high profile people anytime, anywhere. Through this feature, celebrities can send updates directly to fans through the chat interface, and vice versa—making the interaction much more personal.

Already on LINE via Official Accounts is a number of K-POP and Hollywood stars such as Siwon of Super Junior, Lee Min Ho, ZE:A, The Wonder Girls, 2AM and 2PM, CNBLUE, G-Dragon, T-Pain, Snoop Dogg and many more.

“We are currently working on expanding the roster for our Official Accounts, especially with the K-POP stars. We are aware that many Filipinos are huge K-POP fans and we hope to be the bridge between them and the stars they idolize,” Mr. Lee said.

LINE is also home to a wide array of games, such as LINE JELLY, LINE POP, and LINE Bubble, and a family of utility apps that are all being constantly updated to meet users’ needs. Among these are LINE Camera, LINE Brush, and LINE Tools.

“We at LINE are looking forward to reaching out to Filipinos. We hope to create fun and lasting connections among them and their loved ones,” remarked Mr. Lee. “And we will continue to work on improving our platform and being as imaginative as possible in creating new content and features that users will enjoy.”

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