Line

Short description: Freeware instant communications app

Line

Screenshot featuring the "Line Friends" stickers

Developer(s)|

* Line Corporation (2011-2023)
* LY Corporation (2023-present)

Initial release| June 23, 2011 (2011-06-23)
Repository| github.com/line
Operating system|

Operating system

* Android: 7.0 and later
* iOS: 13.0 and later
* Windows: 10 and later
* macOS: 10.14 and later

Platform| Smartphone, PC, iPad, Smartwatch
Size|

Size

* Android: 221.59 MB
* iOS: 262.4 MB
* Windows: 161 MB
* macOS: 234.4 MB
* Chrome: 4.91MiB

Available in| 17 languages[1]

List of languages

English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Arabic, Turkish

Type| Instant messaging, Social networking service
License| Proprietary software
Website| line.me/en/

Line is a freeware app for instant communications on electronic devices operated by LY Corporation. Line users exchange: texts, images, video and audio and conduct free VoIP conversations and video conferences. In addition, Line is a platform providing various services including: digital wallet as Line Pay, news stream as LINE Today, video on demand as Line TV and digital comic distribution as Line Manga and Line Webtoon.

Line was launched in Japan in June 2011 by NHN Japan, a subsidiary of Naver Corporation.[2] Because it was tailored to Japanese consumers' tastes and offered free smartphone calls as well as texting, with the help of a massive marketing campaign it quickly outpaced its existing rival KakaoTalk for the Japanese market.[2] It reached 100 million users within 18 months and 200 million users six months later.[3] Line became Japan's largest social network in 2013, with more than 300 million users.[4] By February 2015 it had 600 million users.[5]

In March 2021, SoftBank Group affiliate and Yahoo! Japan operator Z Holdings completed a merger with Line Corporation. Under the new structure, A Holdings, a subsidiary of SoftBank Corporation and Naver Corporation, will own 65.3% of Z Holdings, which will operate Line and Yahoo! Japan.[6] Line is the most popular messaging application in Japan , Taiwan and Thailand.[7][8]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Market share
* 3 Features
* 3.1 Official channels
* 3.2 Stickers
* 3.3 Games
* 3.4 Line Pay
* 3.5 Line Taxi
* 3.6 Line Wow
* 3.7 Line Today
* 3.8 Line Shopping
* 3.9 Line Gift
* 3.10 Line Doctor
* 4 Line Lite
* 5 Limitations
* 6 Security
* 7 Censorship
* 8 In popular culture
* 9 Related products
* 9.1 Line Friends
* 9.2 Line Man
* 9.3 Line TV
* 9.4 Stores
* 10 See also
* 11 References
* 12 External links

## History

In South Korea , the home of NHN Japan's parent company Naver Corporation, Naver had launched a messaging app called Naver Talk for the South Korean market in February 2011.[9] However, rival Korean company Kakao had first-mover advantage[9] with its KakaoTalk app launched in March 2010[2] and easily dominated the Korean market by March 2012.[10]

Naver/NHN co-founder and chairman Lee Hae-Jin and a team of engineers were in Japan when the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.[2][11] Naver/NHN had been in Japan for ten years,[2] trying to build a Japanese search and portal business, since NHN's other international ventures had stagnated.[2][11] The earthquake and tsunami left millions without power and phone lines and SMS networks were overwhelmed.[2] Since Wi-Fi and some 3G remained largely usable, many people turned to KakaoTalk, which was just beginning to gain a foothold in Japan.[2] Lee was inspired to launch a messaging and chat app in the wake of the disaster and his NHN Japan team was testing a beta version of an app accessible on smartphones, tablet and PC, which would work on data network and provide continuous and free instant messaging and calling service,[12] within two months.[2][11] The app was launched as Line in June 2011.[2][11]

Because Naver/NHN had a far superior cultural knowledge of what Japanese users wanted, and a much larger corporate marketing budget, Line quickly surpassed KakaoTalk in Japan.[2] Line also offers free voice calls and, since Japan's telecoms make customers pay for both SMSs and smartphone calls, this feature, which KakaoTalk did not have, was a major selling point.[2]

The app proved hugely popular, and by late October 2011, Line experienced an unexpected server overload.[13] To improve scalability to accommodate its exponential rise in new users, NHN Japan chose HBase as the primary storage for user profiles, contacts and groups.[12] In December 2011, Naver announced that Naver Talk would be merged into Line, effective early 2012.[11][14]

In July 2012, NHN Japan announced the new Line features Home and Timeline. The features allowed users to share recent personal developments to a community of contacts in real-time, similar to the status updates in social networking services such as Facebook.[15] On April 1, 2013, Naver's Japanese branch name was changed from NHN Japan to Line Corporation.[16]

Line became Japan's largest social network by the end of 2013, with more than 300 million registrants worldwide, of which more than 50 million users were within Japan.[4][17] In October 2014, Line announced that it had attracted 560 million users worldwide with 170 million active user accounts.[18] In February 2015, it announced the 600 million users mark had been passed and 700 million were expected by the end of the year.[19]

Line was originally developed as a mobile application for Android and IOS smartphones. The service has since expanded to: BlackBerry OS (August 2012),[20] Nokia Asha (Asia and Oceania, March 2013),[21][22] Windows Phone (July 2013),[23] Firefox OS (February 2014),[24] IPadOS (October 2014) and as a Chrome Browser Application (via the Chrome Web Store). The application also exists in versions for laptop and desktop computers using the Microsoft Windows and MacOS platforms.[citation needed].

In July 2016, Line Corporation held IPOs on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Tokyo Stock Exchange.[25]

In late December 2020, Line Corporation delisted from both the New York Stock Exchange and the Tokyo Stock Exchange,[26] in advance of its absorption-type merger agreement with Z Holdings.[27]

On March 1, 2021, Line Corporation merged with Yahoo! Japan, which has been operated by Z Holdings, a SoftBank Group subsidiary.[28] Under the new structure, Naver Corporation (Line's former parent company) and SoftBank Corp (the wireless carrier unit of SoftBank Group) each one hold 50% stakes in a new company named A Holdings Corp., which holds a majority stake in Z Holdings, which now operates Line and Yahoo! Japan.[28][29][30] Upon integrating the two businesses and creating further platforms, the merged company aims to compete with the U.S. tech giants: Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple and the Chinese tech giants Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent,[29] as well as the Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten.[28] The merger also gives Z Holdings three additional Asian markets where Line is popular: Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia.[28]

## Market share

Line began in Spring 2011 as a communication system for NHN Japan employees. It then saw explosive growth when released to the public in June of that year. By 18 January 2013, Line had been downloaded 100 million times worldwide.[31] The number expanded to 140 million by early July 2013 and to 200 million by July 21.[32] As of June 2016, Japan claimed 68 million users while Thailand had 33 million.[33] As of February 2014, Indonesia had 20 million users, Taiwan 17 million, while India and Spain had 16 million each.[34] NHN representatives announced plans to reach 300 million by further expansion in East Asia, Spain and Chile .[35] In April 2014, Naver announced that Line had reached 400 million worldwide users[36] and by 2017 this had grown to 700 million.[37]

## Features

Line is an application that works on multiple platforms and has access via multiple personal computers (Microsoft Windows or MacOS). The application will also give an option of address book syncing. This application also has a feature to add friends through the use of QR codes by Line ID and by shaking phones simultaneously. The application has a direct pop-out message box for reading and replying to make it easy for users to communicate. It also can share photos, videos and music with other users, send the current or any specific: locations, voice audios, emojis, stickers and emoticons to friends. Users can see a real-time confirmation when messages are sent and received or use a hidden chat feature, which can hide and delete a chat history (from both involved devices and Line servers) after a time set by the user.[38]

The application also makes free voice and video calls. Users can also chat and share media in a group by creating and joining groups that have up to 500 people. Chats also provide bulletin boards on which users can post, like and comment. This application also has timeline and homepage features that allow users to post pictures, text and stickers on their homepages. Users can also change their Line theme to the theme Line provides in the theme shop for free or users can buy other famous cartoon characters they like. Line also has a feature, called a Snap movie, that users can use to record a stop-motion video and add in provided background music.

In January 2015, Line Taxi was released in Tokyo as a competitor to Uber.[39][40][41] Line launched a new android app called "Popcorn buzz" in June 2015. The app facilitates group calls with up to 200 members.[42] In June a new Emoji keyboard was also released for IOS devices, which provides a Line-like experience with the possibility to add stickers.[43] In September 2015 a new Android launcher was released on the Google Play Store, helping the company to promote its own services through the new user interface.[44]

### Official channels

Line includes a feature known as "official channels" which allows companies, especially news media outlets, publications and other mass media companies to offer an official channel which users can join and thereby receive regular updates, published articles or news updates from companies or news outlets.[45][46]

### Stickers

Line features a Sticker Shop where users are able to purchase virtual stickers depicting original and well-known characters. The stickers are used during chat sessions between users and act as large emoji. Users can purchase stickers as gifts, with many stickers available as free downloads, depending on country availability. Purchased stickers are attached to an account and can be used on other platforms. New sticker sets are released weekly. Line's message stickers feature original characters as well as a number of popular manga, anime and gaming characters, movie tie-ins and characters from Disney properties such as Pixar. Some sticker sets, such as those that celebrate special events like the 2012 Summer Olympics, are released for only a limited time. Other sticker sets that support charity are known as Charity Stickers. For example, in 2016, Line released "Support Kumamoto" Charity Stickers to provide aid to victims of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. All proceeds earned from the sales of these stickers were to be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society to provide financial support and aid for the victims.[47]

The original default characters and stickers, known as Line Friends, were created by Kang Byeongmok, also known as "Mogi", in 2011.[48][49]

There are over 1 billion stickers sent by worldwide users on a daily basis.[50] The popular characters Milk & Mocha began as stickers on Line in Indonesia.[51]

### Games

NHN Japan created Line Games in 2011. Only those with a Line application account can install and play the games. Players can connect with friends, send and accept items and earn friend points. The game range includes: puzzles, match-three, side-scroller, musical performance, simulation, battle and spot-the-difference games. In September 2013, Line Corporation announced its games had been downloaded 200 million times worldwide.[52]

On July 10, 2017, Line Games acquired NextFloor Corporation, developers of Dragon Flight and Destiny Child.[53] On January 5, 2017, LINE Games was announced as the publisher for Hundred Soul (formerly known as Project 100) by Hound 13.[54]

On December 12, 2018, Line Games held a media event called LPG (Line Games-Play-Game) to introduce its games for 2019. Mobile games announced include: Exos Heroes (by OOZOO), Ravenix: The Card Master (also by OOZOO), Dark Summoners (by SkeinGlobe), Project PK (by Rock Square) and Super String (by Factorial Games). Project NM by Space Dive was also announced for PC. Games to be released on mobile and PC include: Project NL (by MeerKat Games) and Uncharted Waters Origins (by Line Games and Koei Tecmo).[55]

On 10 Jul 2019, Nintendo released Dr. Mario World co-developed by Line Games.[56] On July 18, 2019, First Summoner developed by SkeinGlobe was released.

### Line Pay

Line introduced Line Pay worldwide on December 16, 2014. The service allows users to request and send money from users in their contact list and make mobile payments in store.[57] The service has since expanded to allow other features such as offline wire transfers when making purchases and ATM transactions like depositing and withdrawing money. Unlike other Line services, Line Pay is offered worldwide through the Line app.

### Line Taxi

Line Taxi was launched in January 2015 in partnership with Nihon Kotsu, a local taxi service in Japan.[58] Just like Line Pay, Line Taxi is not offered as a separate app but rather through the Line app where users can request a taxi and automatically pay for it when they connect their account to Line Pay.[59]

### Line Wow

Announced alongside Line Pay and Line Taxi, a service that allows users to instantly access delivery services for registered food or products and services.[60]

### Line Today

A news hub integrated in the Line app.

### Line Shopping

A referral program for online shopping. Customers get extra discount or earn Line Points by purchasing through the Line Shopping service.

### Line Gift

A gift sending services on Line. Customers can send gift via Line.[61]

### Line Doctor

A matching platform for finding doctors online.[61]

## Line Lite

Line Lite

Developer(s)| Line Corporation
Stable release|

2.17.1 / 2021-09-13 [62]

Operating system| Android
Size| 8.89 MB

In 2015, a lower-overhead Android app was released for emerging markets called Line Lite. This supports messages and calls[63] but not themes or timeline.[64]

It became available worldwide in August 2015.[65]

In January 2022 Line announced the discontinuation of Line Lite, taking effect on the 28th February 2022.

## Limitations

Line accounts can be accessed on only one mobile device (running the app version) or one personal computer (running the version for these). Additional mobile devices can install the app but require different mobile numbers or e-mail addresses for the Line account.[66][67]

If "Line Lite" for Android was installed and activated, the user was told they will be "logged out of the normal Line". This message did not make clear that it was impossible to log back in to the normal Line, which would delete all history data when next launched.[68] Line Lite has now been discontinued.

## Security

In August 2013, it was possible to intercept a Line chat session at the network level using packet capture software and to reconstruct it on a PC. Messages were sent in cleartext to Line's server when on cellular data but encrypted when using Wi-Fi most of the time.[69]

Until February 2016, it was also possible to "clone" an iPhone from a backup and then use the "cloned" iPhone to access the same Line account as used by the original iPhone. This loophole was widely rumored (but never proven) to have been used to intercept Line messages between the popular Japanese television personality Becky and her married romantic partner Enon Kawatani; the intercepted messages were published in the magazine Shukan Bunshun and led to the temporary suspension of Becky's television career.[70]

In July 2016, Line Corporation turned on end-to-end encryption by default for all Line users.[71] It had earlier been available as an opt-in feature since October 2015.[72] The app uses the ECDH protocol for client-to-client encryption.[72] In August 2016, Line expanded its end-to-end encryption to also encompass its group chats, voice calls and video calls.[73]

In March 2021, the Japanese government announced that it would investigate Line after reports that it let Chinese system-maintenance engineers in Shanghai access Japanese users' data without informing them,[74] beginning in August 2018.[75] Four Chinese engineers in a Shanghai-based affiliate that Line subcontracted to develop AI accessed the messages stored in the Japanese computer system and personal information of Line users, such as: name, phone number, email address and Line ID.[75] Photos and video footage posted by Japanese users were also stored on a server in South Korea.[76] Line stated in March 2021 that it had since blocked access to user data at the Chinese affiliate[74] and that it would revise its privacy policy and make it more explicit.[75] Line had been used by the Japanese government and local governments to notify residents about developments in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.[75] In response to the reports of security issues, the national government and many local governments halted their usage of Line in late March 2021.[77] In April 2021 the government ordered Line to take measures to properly protect customers' information and to report improvement measures within a month.[76] Line also relocated image and other data stored in South Korea to Japan.[77] As of November 2021, the Tokyo metropolitan government offers proof of COVID-19 vaccinations through the Line app, with expansion planned for other prefectures.[78]

On 12 April 2021, Line suffered a large-scale crash in Taiwan.[79] Unconfirmed reports suggest that Roman Matovsky hacked the company's servers because of a personal conflict with the company. He wrote about it on his personal blog shortly after the platform's services resumed, asserting why and what he claimed happened[80] and additionally left comments consistent with this in his social network profiles, which he subsequently removed the next day.[81][82]

More than 70,000 LINE Pay users in Taiwan have been affected by a leak of transaction information during the period from December 26, 2020, to April 2, 2021.[83]

## Censorship

Line suppressed content in China to conform with government censorship.[84] Analysis by Citizen Lab showed that accounts registered with Chinese phone numbers download a list of banned words that cannot be sent or received through Line.[85]

Line publicly confirmed the practice in December 2013.[86] However, by 2014, access to Line chat servers has been entirely blocked by the Great Firewall, while the company still makes revenue in China from brick-and-mortar stores.[87][88]

In Indonesia, Line has responded to pressure from the Indonesian Communication and Information Ministry to remove emojis and stickers it believes make reference to homosexuality, for example the emoji "two men holding hands". Line issued a public statement on the issue: "Line regrets the incidents of some stickers which are considered sensitive by many people. We ask for your understanding because at the moment we are working on this issue to remove the stickers".[89]

In Thailand, Line is suspected of responding to pressure from the Thai government and, after previously approving 'Red Buffalo' stickers, which had been used to refer to the Red Shirts political faction, including by the Red Shirts themselves, removed the stickers.[90][91]

In Russia, on 28 April 2017, Russia's Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media, placed LINE on a banned list. Telecommunications companies appear to have taken steps in May to progressively block access to LINE and other services using smartphones. The Russian Internet Regulation Law obliges social network operators to store personal information of their Russian customers in the country and submit it if requested by the authorities; LINE is believed to have been found to be in breach of this provision. According to reports, BBM, Imo.im and Vchat have been newly added to the list of banned services, in addition to LINE. On 3 May 2017 access to Line chat servers was entirely blocked by the Roskomnadzor and the Line servers were added to the Unified Register of Banned Sites, after which Russian users began to experience problems receiving and sending messages.[92][93]

## In popular culture

On November 20, 2012, Line was shown in Far East Movement's music video, featuring Sidney Samson, for the song "Change Your Life". DJ Virman is seen chatting with Sidney Samson at the middle of the music video.[94]

On December 16, 2012, the Line application was shown in American rap artist Big Sean's music video for the song "Guap".[95]

On May 16, 2014, Warner Music Italy released the music video for Italian singer Annalisa's "Sento solo il presente", in which the recording artist is seen using the Line application at the beginning of the video.[96]

Since Line has become ubiquitous in Japan, its usage is depicted with relative frequency in anime, dramas, and other pop culture. For example, in the 2017 anime Tsuki ga Kirei, the Line app is the protagonists' main way of communication.[97]

## Related products

### Line Friends

Line Friends Store in Hysan Place, Hong Kong

Line Friends are featured characters that are shown in stickers of the application. They include Brown, Cony, Sally, James, Moon, Boss, Jessica, Edward, Leonard, Choco, Pangyo and Rangers. Two anime series, Line Offline and Line Town, were produced in 2013, picturing the Line Friends as employees for the fictional Line Corporation.

### Line Man

On-demand assistant for food and messenger delivery services in Bangkok.

### Line TV

Main article: Line TV

A video on demand service operating in Taiwan and Thailand.

### Stores

There are physical stores in Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, U.S. and a Korean online store to purchase Line Friends merchandise.[98] Occasionally, Line will have pop-up or temporary stores globally.

## See also

* Comparison of cross-platform instant messaging clients
* Comparison of instant messaging protocols
* Comparison of Internet Relay Chat clients
* Comparison of LAN messengers
* Comparison of VoIP software
* List of SIP software
* List of video telecommunication services and product brands

## References

1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `ios`
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Mac, Ryan (22 March 2015). "How KakaoTalk's Billionaire Creator Ignited A Global Messaging War". Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/03/02/kakaotalk-billionaire-brian-kim-mobile-messaging-global-competition/.
3. ↑ "Line Hits 200 Million Users, Adding 100 Million in Just 6 Months". Tech In Asia. 23 July 2013. http://www.techinasia.com/line-hits-200-million-users-adding-100-million-users-6-months/.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Akky Akimoto, 2013-12-17, Looking at 2013′s Japanese social-media scene, The Japan Times
5. ↑ "Number of Line users to top 700 mil. this year". Korea Times. 8 February 2015. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2015/02/419_173201.html.
6. ↑ "SoftBank unit to invest $4.7bn in Yahoo-Line integration" (in en-GB). https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/SoftBank2/SoftBank-unit-to-invest-4.7bn-in-Yahoo-Line-integration.
7. ↑ "Mobile Messaging App Map of the World - January 2019". https://www.similarweb.com/corp/blog/mobile-messaging-app-map-january-2019/.
8. ↑ "How Japan's Line App Became a Culture-Changing, Revenue-Generating Phenomenon". 19 February 2015. https://www.fastcompany.com/3041578/how-japans-line-app-became-a-culture-changing-revenue-generat.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Yoon Ja-young (1 September 2011). "Talk ain't cheap". The Korea Times. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2011/09/123_93999.html.
10. ↑ Seo Ji-eun (12 March 2012). "Kakao Talk sees users quintuple from 2011". Korea JoongAng Daily. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2012/03/12/industry/Kakao-Talk-sees-users-quintuple-from-2011/2949812.html.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "네이버, 네이버톡 접고 라인에 올인". Korea Economic Daily. 15 December 2011. https://www.hankyung.com/it/article/201112158491i.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Esen Sagynov (2012). "The Story behind LINE App Development". CUBRID.org. http://www.cubrid.org/blog/dev-platform/the-story-behind-line-app-development/.
13. ↑ "Naver LINE App is Back Online in App store". My Phone Daily. WordPress. 1 November 2011. http://myphonedaily.com/2011/11/01/naver-line-app-is-back-online/.
14. ↑ "네이버 talk". http://desk.talk.naver.com/.
15. ↑ Dr. Serkan Toto (4 July 2012). "Line App Gets More Social With "Home" And "Timeline" Features [Social Networks"]. Dr. Serkan Toto - Japan Mobile And Social Games Consulting. http://www.serkantoto.com/2012/07/04/line-app-home-timeline/.
16. ↑ "【LINE】商号変更に関するお知らせ／Information regarding Changes to Company Name" (press release). 1 April 2013. https://linecorp.com/press/2013/0401472.
17. ↑ "Line messaging app doubles size in seven months, has 300 million users". November 25, 2013. https://www.engadget.com/2013/11/25/line-messaging-app-300-million/.
18. ↑ Horwitz, Josh (9 October 2014). "LINE finally reveals it has 170 million monthly active users". http://www.techinasia.com/line-japanese-messaging-app-has-170-million-monthly-active-users/.
19. ↑ "Number of LINE users to top 700 mil. this year". Korea Times. 8 February 2015. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2015/02/419_173201.html.
20. ↑ "Line is Now Available for BlackBerry!". Line Official Blog. Line Global. 17 August 2012. http://en.lineblog.naver.jp/archives/2012-08.html.
21. ↑ "Line for Nokia 'Asha' Device Scheduled to be released in March 2013!". Line Official Blog. Line Global. 26 February 2013. http://en.lineblog.naver.jp/archives/24924144.html.
22. ↑ Steven Millward (26 February 2013). "Line App to Hit Nokia Asha Phones in March, Keen to Chat Up Emerging Markets". Tech In Asia. http://www.techinasia.com/line-app-launching-on-nokia-asha-march-2013/.
23. ↑ Rick Martin (13 June 2012). "NHN Japan Launches Popular LINE App for Windows Phone". Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Inc. http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/nhn-japan-launches-popular-line-141038015.html.
24. ↑ Scott DeVaney (4 February 2014). "Line Lands on Firefox Marketplace". Mozilla Apps Blog. Mozilla Foundation. https://blog.mozilla.org/apps/2014/02/04/line-lands-on-firefox-marketplace.
25. ↑ Fiegerman, Seth (13 July 2016). "Line goes public: what you need to know about the year's biggest tech IPO". CNN Business. https://money.cnn.com/2016/07/13/technology/line-ipo-walkup/.
26. ↑ "Announcement Regarding the Delisting of the Common Shares of LINE Corporation from the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Delisting of the American Depositary Shares from the New York Stock Exchange". 28 December 2020. https://d.line-scdn.net/stf/linecorp/en/ir/all/LINE_20201228_EN.pdf.
27. ↑ "Form 6-K". Line Corporation. December 2020. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1611820/000119312520325161/d77095d6k.htm.
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 "Yahoo Japan operator, Line merge to take on foreign tech giants". Kyodo News. 1 March 2021. https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/03/6805a66d032a-yahoo-japan-operator-line-merge-to-expand-services-globally.html.
29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Masuda, Yoko (1 March 2021). "Yahoo Japan, Line integrate businesses to be major '3rd force'". The Asahi Shimbun. https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14230871.
30. ↑ Eun-Soo, Jin (1 March 2021). "Naver and SoftBank's A Holdings joint venture established". Korea JoongAng Daily. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/03/01/business/tech/naver-line-z-holdings/20210301185000337.html.
31. ↑ Josh Robert Nay (19 January 2013). "Line VoIP and Messaging App Now Has More Than 100 Million Users". TruTower. http://www.trutower.com/2013/01/19/line-voip-and-im-app-now-has-more-than-100-million-users/.
32. ↑ "Line exceeds 200 million users worldwide!". 23 July 2013. http://en.lineblog.naver.jp/archives/30767259.html.
33. ↑ "Line to raise $1bn in IPO". Bangkok Post. 11 June 2016. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1007253/line-to-raise-1bn-in-ipo.
34. ↑ "Number of registered Line app users in selected countries as of February 2014 (in millions)". statista. http://www.statista.com/statistics/250927/number-of-registered-line-app-users-in-selected-countries/.
35. ↑ John Ure (7 July 2013). "Asia's Internet challenge". Live Mint & The Wall Street Journal. http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/TQMcJuaDFdi9oY63k6zvXI/Asias-Internet-challenge.html.
36. ↑ "Line app tops 500 million users". China Post. 3 April 2014. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/business/2014/04/03/404367/Line-app.htm.
37. ↑ "Line Revenue and Usage Statistics (2017) - Business of Apps". Business of Apps. http://www.businessofapps.com/data/line-statistics/.
38. ↑ Jon Russel (22 July 2014). "Messaging app Line gets serious about privacy with Telegram-inspired 'hidden chat' feature". TheNextWeb. https://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/07/22/messaging-app-line-gets-serious-privacy-telegram-inspired-hidden-chat-feature/.
39. ↑ Vincent, James (8 January 2015). "Japanese messaging app Line has launched a taxi service in Tokyo". The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/8/7513161/line-taxi-launches-in-japan-to-battle-Uber.
40. ↑ Cohen, Dave (6 January 2015). "Line Taxi launches, gives Uber first major challenger in Japan". Tech In Asia. https://www.techinasia.com/line-taxi-launch/.
41. ↑ Kosoff, Maya (8 January 2015). "This Japanese Messaging App Is Launching Its Own Taxi Service To Take On Uber". Business Insider. http://www.businessinsider.com/line-messaging-app-taxi-service-2015-1.
42. ↑ "Popcorn Buzz app launched by Line. Can do group call". 5 June 2015. http://previewtech.net/popcorn-buzz-app-line/.
43. ↑ Russell, Jon (June 17, 2015). "Line Takes Aims At The U.S. Market With An Emoji Keyboard App For iOS". https://techcrunch.com/2015/06/17/you-wont-use-our-messaging-app-so-heres-a-funky-keyboard/.
44. ↑ Russell, Jon (September 2015). "Messaging Firm Line Introduces A Launcher App For Android Devices". https://techcrunch.com/2015/08/31/messaging-firm-line-introduces-a-launcher-app-for-android-devices/.
45. ↑ Ultimate Guide to LINE for Business (Aug 2020) By Serene Tan, online overview article.
46. ↑ Getting started with the Messaging API, Official Line guide, official website, accessed February 15, 2021.
47. ↑ "【LINE】LINE Releases Charity Stickers "Support Kumamoto" Worldwide to Aid Victims of Kumamoto Earthquakes". 4 April 2016. https://linecorp.com/en/pr/news/en/2016/1327.
48. ↑ "스마트 폰 속 이모티콘, 세상 밖으로". http://www.i-bait.com/read.php?num=5545&cataId=NLC017004.
49. ↑ "'라인(LINE)'은 일본製일까 한국製일까" (in ko). 5 July 2016. http://www.pressm.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=8738.
50. ↑ "Taiwan market has great potential for Line". ZDNet. 27 November 2013. http://www.zdnet.com/taiwan-market-has-great-potential-for-line-7000023631/.
51. ↑ (15 July 2019). Milk & Mocha, Stiker Karya Kreator Surabaya Ini Diluncurkan di Thailand dan Taiwan, iniSURABAYA (in Indonesian)
52. ↑ "【2億DL記念！】9/13からLINEのゲームが続々キャンペーン実施！" (in ja). Livedoor. 13 September 2013. http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/8064681/.
53. ↑ MarketScreener (July 10, 2017). "LINE : Establishes LINE GAMES, Acquires NextFloor | MarketScreener" (in en). https://www.marketscreener.com/LINE-CORP-28896409/news/LINE-Establishes-LINE-GAMES-Acquires-NextFloor-24723509/.
54. ↑ cinderboy (2017-01-05). "Hundred Soul – Gorgeous action mobile RPG finds publisher" (in en-US). https://mmoculture.com/2017/01/hundred-soul-gorgeous-action-mobile-rpg-finds-publisher/.
55. ↑ cinderboy (2018-12-12). "LINE Games – Publisher reveals several new mobile and PC games for global market" (in en-US). https://mmoculture.com/2018/12/line-games-publisher-reveals-several-new-mobile-and-pc-games-for-global-market/.
56. ↑ "'Dr. Mario World' from Nintendo and LINE Has Released a Day Early on the App Store" (in en-US). 2019-07-09. https://toucharcade.com/2019/07/09/dr-mario-world-early-release-app-store-free-download/.
57. ↑ "Now it's official. Line Pay is here and it's worldwide (and has an iOS bug)". Tech in Asia. https://www.techinasia.com/line-pay-launches.
58. ↑ "Line Launches A Taxi Booking Service In Japan Because Chat Apps Have Become Platforms". TechCrunch. January 8, 2015. https://techcrunch.com/2015/01/08/line-taxi-japan/.
59. ↑ "Line Taxi launches, gives Uber first major challenger in Japan". Tech in Asia. https://www.techinasia.com/line-taxi-launch.
60. ↑ "Messaging giant Line to launch mobile payment service in Japan". ZDNet. http://www.zdnet.com/article/messaging-giant-line-to-launch-mobile-payment-service-in-japan/.
61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 "LINE - The Biggest Messaging Platform in Japan=CoDigital, inc.". https://codigital.co.jp/en/words/line/.
62. ↑ "LINE Lite: Free Calls & Messages APKs - APKMirror". https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/line-corporation/line-lite/.
63. ↑ "LINE Lite: Free Calls & Messages - Apps on Google Play". https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.linecorp.linelite.
64. ↑ "Line Launches Lightweight Version of Its Chat App for Emerging Market Android Phones". July 23, 2015. https://techcrunch.com/2015/07/23/line-lite/.
65. ↑ "LINE Lite, New Streamlined Version of LINE, Available Almost Everywhere Worldwide!". August 18, 2015. http://official-blog.line.me/en/archives/1037373090.html.
66. ↑ "FAQ: Can I use the same Line account from multiple devices?". http://line.naver.jp/help/iphone/en/serviceId/10155.
67. ↑ "Help Center - LINE". http://help.line.me/line/?lang=en#20000132.
68. ↑ "Unable to use device. It looks like you are using this account on another device. All your LINE data on this device will be deleted." and only an OK button is presented.
69. ↑ Sambandaraksa, Don (28 August 2013). "LINE vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attack". Telecomasia.net. http://www.telecomasia.net/blog/content/line-vulnerable-man-middle-attack.
70. ↑ "LINE"盗み見"に対策 「クローンiPhone」不可能に". ITmedia News. 22 February 2016. http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1602/23/news106.html.
71. ↑ Sawers, Paul (30 June 2016). "Ahead of IPO, mobile messaging giant Line introduces end-to-end encryption by default". https://venturebeat.com/2016/06/30/ahead-of-ipo-mobile-messaging-giant-line-introduces-end-to-end-encryption-by-default/.
72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 "New generation of safe messaging: "Letter Sealing"". LINE Corporation. 13 October 2015. http://developers.linecorp.com/blog/?p=3679.
73. ↑ "The next step for even safer messaging: Letter Sealing". Line Corporation. 11 August 2016. http://developers.linecorp.com/blog/?p=3938.
74. ↑ 74.0 74.1 "Japan to probe Line after reports it let Chinese engineers access user data" (in en). Reuters. 2021-03-17. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-line-access-idUSKBN2B901E.
75. ↑ 75.0 75.1 75.2 75.3 Minemura, Kenji; Obu, Toshiya (17 March 2021). "Personal data of millions of Line users accessed by affiliate in China". The Asahi Shimbun. https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14276271.
76. ↑ 76.0 76.1 "Japan gov't warns Line over insufficient personal data protection". Kyodo News. 26 April 2021. https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/04/287f9d135fd5-govt-warns-line-over-insufficient-data-protection.html.
77. ↑ 77.0 77.1 Michinaga, Tatsuya; Goto, Tsuyoshi; Matsukura, Yusuke (24 March 2021). "Japan gov't, many local bodies halt use of Line app following data breach". The Mainichi. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210324/p2a/00m/0na/013000c.
78. ↑ Karube, Rihito (2 November 2021). "Tokyo offers proof of COVID-19 vaccinations through Line app". The Asahi Shimbun. https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14473742.
79. ↑ News, Taiwan (12 April 2021). "LINE crashes in Taiwan | Taiwan News | 2021/04/12". https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4174952.
80. ↑ "LINE app crashed. Privacy is in danger" (in en). 2021-04-12. https://matovsky.com/line-app-crashed-privacy-in-danger.html.
81. ↑ "Roman Matovsky shared a link on VERO™". 2021-04-17. https://vero.co/matovsky/JRJ-KLchcZcq9wssZf3BRtF4.
82. ↑ "I had phone call from LINE". 2021-04-15. https://twitter.com/matovsky/status/1382594411133956097.
83. ↑ "Over 70,000 LINE Pay users in Taiwan affected by data leak - Focus Taiwan" (in zh-Hant-TW). December 7, 2021. https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202112070008.
84. ↑ Hardy, Seth (14 November 2013). "Asia Chats: Investigating Regionally-based Keyword Censorship in LINE". https://citizenlab.org/2013/11/asia-chats-investigating-regionally-based-keyword-censorship-line/.
85. ↑ Ng, Jason Q.; Crete-Nishihata, Masashi; Hardy, Seth; Dalek, Jakub; Senft, Adam (30 April 2014). "Asia Chats: LINE Censored Keywords Update". https://citizenlab.org/2014/04/line-censored-keywords-update/.
86. ↑ Crete-Nishihata, Masashi; Hardy, Seth; Ng, Jason Q.; Dalek, Jakub; Senft, Adam (6 December 2013). "Asia Chats: LINE Corporation Responds". https://citizenlab.org/2013/12/asia-chats-line-responds/. "LINE had to conform to local regulations during its expansion into mainland China, and as a result the Chinese version of Line, "Lianwo", was developed. The details of the system are kept private, and there are no plans to release them to the public."
87. ↑ "Chat apps hit by China disruption". BBC News. 4 July 2014. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-28156725.
88. ↑ Horwitz, Josh (August 3, 2015). "One year after the government banned it, Line is still in China—selling lattes". https://qz.com/470014/one-year-after-the-government-banned-its-chat-app-line-is-still-in-china-selling-lattes-and-tote-bags/.
89. ↑ "Indonesia bans 'gay' emojis on messaging apps". ABC News. 12 February 2016. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-12/indonesia-bans-gay-emojis-on-messaging-apps/7164674/.
90. ↑ Editor. "New Thai buffalo stickers for LINE | 2Bangkok.com" (in en-US). http://2bangkok.com/new-buffalo-stickers-for-line.html.
91. ↑ "Red buffalo sticker banned". Bangkok Post. https://www.bangkokpost.com/tech/436370/red-buffalo-sticker-banned.
92. ↑ "当局がＬＩＮＥ禁止！！ 通信情報提供せず処分". 6 May 2017. https://mainichi.jp/articles/20170506/dde/018/030/038000c.
93. ↑ "「LINE」が急に使えなくなったロシアの事情". 8 May 2017. https://zuuonline.com/archives/150819. Retrieved 4 Aug 2022.
94. ↑ "Change Your Life". FarEastMovementVEVO. 20 November 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRt7UERrrss.
95. ↑ BigSeanVEVO (16 December 2012). "Big Sean - Guap (Explicit)" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzudcm-ywJo.
96. ↑ "Annalisa - Sento solo il presente (Videoclip Ufficiale) - YouTube". Warner Music Group (WMG) Italy. 16 May 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1JJegSeHVs.
97. ↑ "Tsukigakirei on Crunchyroll". http://www.crunchyroll.com/tsukigakirei.
98. ↑ "LINE FRIENDS". http://store.linefriends.com/.

## External links

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Instant messaging

Protocols
(comparison)|

| Open|

* IMPP
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|

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MSNP|

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Defunct|

* List of defunct instant messaging platforms

See also|

* Backchannel
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Defunct|

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* Google Wallet
* Kuapay
* Lemon Wallet
* Softcard
* Znap

* Category
* Comparison of payment systems

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