Line was originally developed as a mobile application for Android and iOS smartphones. The service has since expanded to BlackBerry (August 2012),[5] Nokia Asha (Asia and Oceania, March 2013),[6][7] Windows Phone (July 2013),[8] Firefox OS (February 2014)[9] and iOS tablets (October 2014). The application also exists in versions for laptop and desktop computers using the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS platforms.
Line began in 2011 as the brainchild of engineers at NHN Japan, the Japanese arm of Naver Corporation (formerly NHN) based in South Korea. Today the popular messaging service is operated by Line Corporation, a spinoff company headquartered in Japan, which still remains a subsidiary of Naver.[10