NHN Japan Corporation announced on August 6 the release of new 'Home' and 'Timeline' features for Android versions of its free-calling and free-messaging app 'LINE' (http://line.naver.jp/en). NHN Japan said it  will strengthen the social networking aspect of the service, and that these new features will be available for iPhone versions of the app in the near future.

These new 'Home' and 'Timeline' features allow users connected via LINE to enjoy sharing their most recent happenings with one another. The features will serve as another trigger for communication since users will be able to check what their friends have been up to recently, in real time , without the necessity of sending messages.

Peace of Mind: The service differs from that of open services,  such as Twitter and Facebook, as LINE's 'Home' and 'Timeline' allow users to share their activities and events only with close friends and family members who are connected via LINE. (Users can also select which LINE friends to share their posts with)

NHN Japan has also said these new features are designed only to be a supplement to its main free-calling and free-messaging services, and as such, users who do not wish to use 'Home' or 'Timeline' can simply continue using these main services as they have done so up until now.

1. Home

This page will function as users' own space, where they can use text, photos, videos, location information, etc., to share their recent events. Users can also choose their own cover photo which will allow them to express their own personalities.

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2. Timeline

Users can keep track of all their LINE friends' recent updates to their Home pages in a timeline format.

'Liking' posts are even more fun, with the addition of LINE's popular character stickers to express users' emotions in relation to posts. Of course, users can leave messages in text form as usual too. All this adds up to enhancing and enriching communication amongst LINE friends.

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3. Timeline and Home Privacy Settings

Users can choose which friends to share their posts with.

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Also, with the new 'More' button added to the menu bar, users can easily access these new features as well as any of the other services integrated to LINE including Sticker Shop, Official Accounts, LINE Camera, LINE Card and Games.

NHN Japan has reassured that these new features will be released for the iPhone version within the near future, and that the company will expand as well as continually improve the features and functions which serve to provide an enriching communicative experience between LINE users.

About NHN Japan Corporation

NHN Japan is the local affiliate of Korea's premier Internet company, NHN Corporation. NHN Japan is headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, with Akira Morikawa as CEO.