Line to maintain leading market status in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand in 2013, says NHN Japan CEO

Line, a smartphone- and PC-based instant messaging application developed by Japan-based NHN Japan, aims to maintain its leading market share for mobile instant messaging in Japan, Taiwan and Thailand and reach the largest market share in South Korea in 2013, president and CEO Akira Morikawa for NHN Japan said at a press conference in Taipei on January 30.

Line has launched its services in 231 countries around the world and has attained the largest mobile instant messenger market share in 40 countries including Japan, Taiwan, Thailand Spain, Hong Kong and Singapore, Morikawa indicated. Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea are the four most important markets in Asia for Line, Morikawa said.

There are 40 million Line users in Japan, 12 million in Taiwan and about 10 million in Thailand, Morikawa indicated.

In the Taiwan market, Line will offer various value-added services including mobile games and information about shopping.

NHN Japan president and CEO Akira Morikawa
Photo: Fu Shih-min, Digitimes, January 2013