Sometimes, I get too carried away writing about apps and their good, bad, etc. I forget that the people behind them are still, you know, human. They create apps that they will use and have fun with. Today’s feature is one such example.
If this is your first time reading this series, welcome to Apps I Live By! The title suggests that I’m writing about apps that people live by, but really, there is so much to discover through understanding these digital tools they use (and also which service provider is thriving amongst my interviewees- Singtel, for now.) Last week, we spoke to a very young and successful restaurant and app owner, Ze Yan, who likes to take things into his own hands. Few weeks before, we peeked into Spotify’s Asia Managing Director, Sunita Kaur, and discovered an awesome playlist of hers – titled Sunita’s Homework. Should you have any awesome personalities in mind you would like me to cover, do not hesitate to drop me a mail at dawn@vulcanpost.com. Always glad to hear from you! In the meantime, have you heard of LINE?
Join me today as I peek into the smartphone of an important person behind LINE – General Manager of Global LINE Business, Simeon Cho.
For those who are not familiar, LINE is a mobile messenger app that provides free local and international messaging, calling and group chatting. Coupled with these is a social networking platform with a wide range of entertainment for the user to engage in. First launched in Japan in 2011, LINE grew rapidly across Japan and had at least 50 million Japanese users.
Did you know that the app was launched initially as a response to an earthquake? In 2011, Japan suffered the Thoku earthquake which caused a massive tsunami to build up. Thousands were left stranded and unable to reach their loved ones. This was when LINE Messenger was birthed. The exponential growth rate of LINE is said to be three times faster than that of Facebook’s growth, as reported by Reuters.
Today, we’re privileged to peek into an interesting homescreen of Mr Simoen Cho and check out the apps he use as the global manager of LINE Business.
1. LINE
“Of course, my day starts and ends with LINE messenger. Whenever I am traveling overseas for business trips, I stay connected with my family by messaging. Ever since I started using the free video call feature with my kids, I can’t imagine going back to just audio call.”
Anyone has fully ditched Whatsapp for LINE? I’m treading at the edge of Whatsapp now, only because most of my friends are still there. Do you know that LINE’s vision is not just to be any other messenging app, but to be a lifestyle platform that provides an array of services? Much like an ecosystem!
2. LINE Selfie Sticker
“As one of LINE’s latest family app, LINE Selfie Sticker enables users to create their unique stickers with selfies. I have been trying out different designs to make into my profile photo and ended up coming up with below!”
You may find out more about LINE’s selfie sticker and how you can fully utilise it at your App or Play Store. What a sticker to create! Do you know that LINE recently launched a free in-app feature that allows you to connect back with your past school mates? Also called LINE Alumni, the app is aimed to bring people closer together.
3. GrabTaxi
“With GrabTaxi, it is very convenient to get around Singapore during my busy day with multiple meetings! This taxi app dispatches a taxi in just a few taps for safe taxi rides around town.”
I’m very close to declaring that GrabTaxi is the ultimate taxi booking app.
Thank you Mr. Simeon for allowing us a peek into your homescreen. Great to see Singapore-grown app, Carousell hanging out with the LINE apps.
If you are interested in finding out more about this app, you may read more about it here! It’s inspiring how a natural disaster can spur the beginning of such an established app today. What about you?