Japan is an amazing country. No trouble can stop Japanese people from moving forward. Wars, earthquakes, even the Fukushima nuclear disaster – nothing can demoralize them. These people produce high quality things, having almost no resources. They are very hard working and that’s what makes them strong and allows achieving amazing results. Human resources is the major and a very important asset this country has. Japanese products are known for their comfort, convenience and being reliable. In the mobile applications’ market, these qualities are required as much as anywhere else. LINE, the Japanese messaging app, has attempted to implement them and, according to the users’ feedbacks, it has succeeded. Our today’s post is about LINE review.
Line Messenger. Major outlines:
The app was released in June 2011 for iOS and Android.- In 2012, LINE for BlackBerry came out, in 2013 the Nokia Asha and Windows Phone were released.
- There are web-versions for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS.
- Initial work on LINE was done by NHN Japan. Currently the app is run by Line Corporation.
- The app is party free for users. All basic options do not require any expenses. The app’s monetization strategy is implemented through virtual LINE Store where you can buy stickers, games and other bonus features.
- As of April 2014, the number of the app’s users got over 400 mn people.
- The app shows ads.
- The messenger app allows one to send text messages, photos, videos and audio files instantly.
- The app has fast access to the camera, it works with photo filters, an option to add captions and edit photos (not professional editing).
- LINE supports A/V calls. They are free but consume Internet traffic.
- It does not support calls to mobile and landline telephones.
- The app supports group chats.
- In chats, mostly the stickers and the content from LINE Store are used.
- The app allows sending gif. animation.
- The app possesses qualities typical of a social network. It supports blog functions, comments; however, users can sign up only for official (commercial) pages.
- The app has a PC and a web-version.
- In the recent updates, a new option of secret chats has been added. A time limit is set and when it is over, the correspondence between the two users self-destructs both from the server and from the devices.
- Messages can be deleted only in secret chats. Correspondence is deleted in chats automatically. You cannot retract a message.
- The app shows network statuses.
- The app supports transfer of links.
- The sign up process is similar to that in the majority of similar apps – a new account is registered by linking the user’s phone number to it.
- Contacts are added from the contact list on the phone. Those who have LINE installed on their phone will be added.
- An option to invite users to LINE is available. It can be enabled at the user’s discretion.
- The app supports push notifications. You can enable/disable them in the Settings section.
Facts and events around the messaging app:
LINE has been acknowledged as one of the most commercially successful messaging apps. In Q1 2013, the revenue was $58 mn. In Q2, it totaled $132 mn.
The messenger is mostly popular in Asian countries, like Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Taiwan. Recently, it has been claiming momentum in South America countries.
The developers got the idea of the making LINE due to the trend of giving up regular mobile phones for the sake of smartphones.
The second reason for creating the app urgently was the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Fukushima. Back then, a lot of Japanese people were unable to contact their relatives because the cellular communications could hardly work but the Internet was fully operational.
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