LINE reaches 30mn users in India; to partner game developers

Messaging app LINE today said it has touched the 30 million userbase milestone in India and is on track to reach the 50 million-mark by the year end.
The Japanese company, which has over 560 million users globally, had launched its services in India in May last year.
"We make sure that our new features and services, be it through stickers or games, to take our users beyond the usual messaging experience and that has helped us reach the 30 million milstone in such a short span of time," LINE Business Head India Daman Soni told PTI.
He added that the company is on track to reach the 50 million userbase by December-end this year.

India, which is the fastest growing market for smartphones, has seen a huge growth in userbase for messaging apps like WhatsApp, WeChat LINE and Hike.
Soni said LINE is looking at partnering game developers in India to co-invest in development and marketing of games on its platform.

"Globally, our gaming property is very popular and we are looking at building that up in India as well. We are working with companies in India to find opportunities to co-invest in localised content," he said.
More than 40 dynamic games are available through LINE's gaming platform. With operations in 230 countries and regions (as of May 2014), LINE has 72 LINE family apps like LINE camera, LINE SnapMovie, LINE PLAY and LINE GAME for communication, digital content, game, tools and media.

Soni said the company is also engaging with content creators to design stickers with local messages.
Besides, LINE India is also looking at monetising options through tie-ups with corporates, offering them their platform to connect with consumers. Its partners include Groupon, Jabong and foodpanda.