NHN Japan Corp. has grown its free LINE application into one of the world's most talked-about apps. By using unique, strategic approaches, the firm has defied the Internet industry's conventional wisdom.
For those who have never used the Japanese-made communication app that allows users to talk and text for free, the new service may seem like just another version of online chat. "I have been chatting online using my computer for more than 10 years now," one typical user said. LINE has the same basic functions as existing services; users can make free voice calls and send messages for free.