NHN Japan Corporation announced on April 26 the opening of the "Sticker Shop", for its free calling and free messaging app "LINE" (http://line.naver.jp/), where you can purchase stickers (some available for free)  featuring popular characters from around the world.

Furthermore, on top of the usual features that allow the exchange of text, locations info, images, emoji (pictograms) and stickers, a new function which allows users to send video and audio files via LINE's chat room has been released.

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LINE is a smartphone app which allows users to enjoy free calls and messages to one another, both nationally and internationally, regardless of which mobile network provider they are using. Currently, it is used by over 30 million users in 231 countries worldwide, including 13 million users in Japan. The stickers (LINE's original communications feature using ultra-expressive character icons) allow users to enjoy communication with friends and family without the necessity of text, and have been proving very popular. It helps aid communication to go beyond the boundaries of country and language and is being well received throughout the world.

As well as stickers with LINE's original characters, the new "Sticker Shop" functions as an online store and offers other stickers featuring popular characters from around the world. At the time of release, there will be a total of 15 sets on offer, taking the total number of available stickers to 784.

Of course stickers are available for regular purchase. However, Android users can also send them as gifts to other users via LINE. By exchanging these stickers with other close friends, we believe that this will lead to further promote and increase communication amongst users.

As well as the "Sticker Shop", a new function which allows users to send video and audio files via LINE's chat room has been introduced (audio messages of up to 180 seconds and video footage of up to 90 seconds). In addition to the existing functions such as sharing photos with ease, these new features allow users  to leave voice-mails and video messages, creating a new freedom of use.

As one of the world's leading global messaging services, LINE will continue to improve the user-friendliness of its services.

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.

About the Sticker shop

*The Sticker Shop is available for use on smartphones only.

*Stickers purchased or received as gifts from the Sticker Shop can be used/viewed on the smartphone, and PCs, as well as smart-tablet browser versions of LINE.