Japanese messaging app company Line is pumping 20 billion JPY ($182 million) into its mobile payment business as it tries to turn things around following a challenging year in 2018. The company announced the infusion into Line Pay, a subsidiary that it fully owns, in a filing which stated that the new capital is “necessary […]
View More Chat app Line injects $182M into its mobile payment businessCategory: Line
Nintendo is making Dr. Mario for iOS and Android
Nintendo held off on building smartphone games for years, but now they just can’t stop. They started with a little stumble with the short-lived Miitomo, but then found an audience with Super Mario Run. Then came Fire Emblem Heroes. Then Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, and Dragalia Lost. Next up? Dr. Mario. Nintendo announced this afternoon […]
View More Nintendo is making Dr. Mario for iOS and AndroidIs ethical tech a farce?
Shannon Farley Contributor Shannon Farley is co-founder and executive director at Fast Forward. More posts by this contributor Legal tech is opening the system to those who need legal representation the most Why edtech startups need to build for overlooked communities In the past year, we’ve seen tech platforms called out for stoking hate and […]
View More Is ethical tech a farce?Chat app Line’s games business raises $110M for growth opportunities
Messaging app firm Line has given up majority control of its Line Games business after it raised outside financing to expand its collection of titles and go after global opportunities. The Line Games business was formed earlier this year when Line merged its existing gaming division from NextFloor, the Korea-based game publisher that it acquired in […]
View More Chat app Line’s games business raises $110M for growth opportunitiesFirst DJI, now Bang & Olufsen gets Line Friends-themed products
Line is a pretty busy company. Beyond a messaging app that claims over 160 million users, the company operates service like music streaming, manga, food delivery, games and it is also venturing into crypto. The company has long been known for its playful characters — Line Friends — which are a core part of its […]
View More First DJI, now Bang & Olufsen gets Line Friends-themed productsChat app Line to raise $1.33BN via convertible bonds to double down on financial services
Move over stickers and games: Japanese messaging app firm Line has announced it’s raising around 148.1 billion yen ($1.33BN) through convertible bonds to fund aggressive expansion into the financial services business, Reuters reports. Line said it plans to spend most of the money on promoting its Line Pay service and for other new financial services by the […]
View More Chat app Line to raise $1.33BN via convertible bonds to double down on financial servicesChat app Line hopes its own crypto token can solve its user growth problem
Line, the Japanese messaging app firm that’s best known for its cutesy characters and stickers, is pushing deeper into crypto after it launched its own token to help grow its stagnant user base. Line went public two years ago with 218 million monthly active users, but it hasn’t been able to kick on. The company no longer gives out […]
View More Chat app Line hopes its own crypto token can solve its user growth problemChat app Line gets serious about gaming with its latest acquisition
Line, the company best-known for its popular Asian messaging app, is doubling down on games after it acquired a controlling stake in Korean studio NextFloor for an undisclosed amount. NextFloor, which has produced titles like Dragon Flight and Destiny Child, will be merged with Line’s games division to form the Line Games subsidiary. Dragon Flight […]
View More Chat app Line gets serious about gaming with its latest acquisitionChat app Line to launch crypto exchange in July but it won’t cover US or Japan
Messaging app firm Line has confirmed it will launch a cryptocurrency exchange called BitBox next month. The company said back in January that it planned to enter the crypto space with an exchange, but today it said that the BitBox service won’t be available for users in the U.S. and Japan — that’s presumably down […]
View More Chat app Line to launch crypto exchange in July but it won’t cover US or JapanTwilio adds support for Line
The developer-centric communications platform Twilio today announced that it has added support for line to Twilio Channels. With this, Twilio developers now have the ability to reach users on this service, which has 168 million monthly active users, most of which live in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and Indonesia. Line support in Twilio Channels is currently […]
View More Twilio adds support for LineSoftBank buys into Line’s mobile service in Japan
SoftBank is partnering up with messaging app Line to help develop its Line Mobile telecom service. Line announced that it has agreed to allow SoftBank to take a 51 percent in the business via an issuance of new shares. The deal is expected to clo…
View More SoftBank buys into Line’s mobile service in JapanChat app Line announces plan for cryptocurrency services, loans and insurance
Line, the messaging app with around 200 million monthly users, is embracing bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to fend off increased competition from Facebook and others. The Japanese company told announced the creation of a new financial service…
View More Chat app Line announces plan for cryptocurrency services, loans and insurance