Messaging app Line expects to cross 20 million Indian users in 2013 - Economic Times

MUMBAI: Japanese messaging application Line said it reached 10 million registered users in India and expects to cross the 20 million mark this year, as it focuses on advertising and localizing content.

India, which has overtaken Japan to become the third-largest smartphone market is the world, is an attractive target for messaging applications. In May, China's Tencent launched its application WeChat in India.

The volume of mobile messaging apps is forecast to be twice that of person to person, or P2P SMS, messaging by the end of 2013, according to Informa Telecoms and Media.

"We haven't experienced such rapid growth in any other country to date," Akira Morikawa, CEO of Line Corp, said.

Morikawa said Line had 260 million users globally, though he was unable to say what portion of those users actively used the service. US messaging application Whatsapp has more than 250 million active users.

Line has roped in Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif as its brand ambassador. It will also have stickers and the official accounts of movies like 'Phata Poster Nikla Hero' and 'Besharam'.

Line has also tied-up with Sony India and will come pre-installed on the Sony Xperia Z1 and Xperia C smartphones. Sony Music Entertainment will open official accounts on Line.

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