Challenge to Global Platform

 

Korean messaging app Line is likely to see its total subscribers surpass 500 million much sooner than expected. Initially, the figure was believed to be achievable by the end of this year.

According to industry sources on August 24, over the past two months Line’s subscribers have been rising by more than 200 million people per month, and an average of 700,000 people become new members each day. If this trend continues, or even slows down a little, experts believe that the messenger app is likely to pass the 500 million mark by the end of June.

As Columbia has recently been included as a country with more than 100 million members, a total of 11 nations are considered to have over 100 million subscribers — Korea, Japan, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the U.S., Mexico, and Spain. 

With a large number of people subscribing to Line in a variety of countries, the weight of sales in countries other than Japan is increasing. Line witnessed sales of mobile games grow 25 percent quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter of this year, a big increase from the 8 percent rise from Q1. The proportion of Japan to other countries in total sales decreased from 80 percent in Q1 to 75 percent in Q2, indicating regional diversification.

What is noticeable is that the sales figures for mobile games like Line Rangers and Cookie Run have increased significantly in other countries where the mobile game market has been activated, including Taiwan and Thailand.

Based on this growth, Line is planning to expand its role from a mobile messenger to a mobile platform.

According to industry analysts, it is possible that Internet of Things (IoT) companies will become linked to networks through Line in the future, starting from home appliance manufacturers using Line as a platform that connects their products with consumers. It is also possible for Line to strengthen its partnership with manufacturers of IoT-related devices in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand, where it is playing a role as an influential social platform.

Copyright © BusinessKorea. Prohibited from unauthorized reproduction and redistribution