LINE Launches "LINE Call" in Eight Countries

LOS ANGELES, March 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- LINE Corporation, owner and operator of the free call and messaging app, LINE, today announced the release of LINE Call, a new calling service allowing people with LINE accounts to make high-quality voice calls direct to landlines and cellphones from the LINE app. LINE Call will initially be available in eight countries – Japan, United States, Mexico, Peru, Columbia, Thailand, Philippines, and Spain – with future plans to roll out the service to other countries.

People with the latest version of the LINE app installed on their Android device (available on iOS shortly) and have a registered phone number on their LINE account can begin using LINE Call without any additional setup and instantly get access to clear, uninterrupted, high-quality, and low-cost domestic and international calls to landlines and mobile phones.

LINE Call service is a great alternative to traditional prepaid mobile services and disposable calling cards, letting users make affordable voice calls to people outside of the LINE app. Customers can choose from two different competitively priced data-based calling plans, either a monthly plan or a pay-as-you-go plan. LINE Call will enable all LINE users worldwide to enjoy this service on top of the full array of LINE services, features and products.

"The ability to make calls directly to mobile and landline phones has been one of our most requested features, and we are proud to be able to provide LINE customers a more seamless and fun experience on our app while engaging those closest to them," said Jeanie Han, Chief Executive Officer, LINE Euro-Americas Corp. "With each new platform development and service, we are able to improve our platform to strengthen our positioning as an 'all-in-one' communication app."

LINE Call gives LINE users the option to choose between the existing free call service to other LINE users, or to take advantage of low-cost calls to any other number with LINE Call, making for a more convenient calling experience. LINE has given users the ability to make free calls to other LINE users since October 2011 and added the free video call functionality in September 2013. Since both services are only available inside the LINE app, LINE users can now connect to people who do not have LINE installed, especially to international numbers.  

Costs of all calls are calculated depending on the country or region where the receiver's phone number is contracted, which means that the cost of calls to US numbers are the same whether the call originates from inside or outside the country. LINE Call will show the cost-per-minute of the call upfront, automatically displayed on the dialing screens so users knows exactly how much they are being charged for each call. Call Credit can be purchased inside the LINE app, and there are various calling packages available.

Made possible through industry partnerships and relationships with global wholesale carriers, LINE is able to secure competitive market rates, providing customers yet another channel to communicate. Additionally, LINE adapts the service to the unique capabilities of each OS and mobile device type, in order to offer uninterrupted voice calls of the highest quality possible.

As of February 2014, LINE has more than 370 million registered users globally.

About LINE Corporation
LINE Corporation is based in Japan and develops and operates the LINE app for smartphones. Since launching in June 2011, the LINE app has grown into a global service used in 230 countries, ranking first in the free app category in 60 countries. LINE offers free one-to-one and group messaging, as well as free domestic and international voice and video calls. LINE also includes a wide array of social elements such as fun and expressive stickers, a personal Home, a Timeline, and numerous LINE family apps, including LINE games and LINE camera. For more information about LINE, please visit http://line.me

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SOURCE LINE Corporation