It looks like all the mobile messaging apps wants to start offering voice calling services. Just two days ago, WhatsApp made an announcement in MWC 2014 saying that they will bring voice call services later this year and now, it’s Line’s turn. The Japanese company, Line Corporation, recently announced that they will be bringing voice call service to their popular mobile messaging app and no, it’s not like the existing calls capability that only allows Line users to call fellow Line users.
The voice calling service that Line is going to launch is similar to what Skype, Hangouts and Viber are currently offering – using data, you can use Line to make calls to land and mobile numbers. The company plans to offer calling services at a very competitive rate to undercut typical landlines and mobile carrier charges.
For the initial launch, which is scheduled for next month in Japan, US, Mexico, Spain, Thailand and Philippines, Line Corporation will offer a pay-as-you-go and a 30-day plan. For its home country, the 30-day plan will offer up to 60 minutes maximum for both mobile and landline calls at about 6.5yen (RM0.20)/minute. A separate call credit plan will cost 14yen/min to mobile phones (including overseas) and 3yen to landlines.
Apart from that, at the company’s showcase event, Line also unveiled a new Line Creators Maker that allow sticker creators to sell their stickers on a dedicated market. To be launched in April (in Japan at least), sticker owners will get to keep 50% of the revenue from the sticker sales. If you’re an artistic one who wish to have your work exposed to the 300 million users on Line, check out Line Creators Market now.
(Source: Engadget 1, Engadget 2)
