Los Angeles, CA and Madrid – January 28, 2014 – Telefónica and LINE Euro-Americas Corporation, subsidiary of LINE Corporation, owner and operator of the free call and messaging app, LINE, announced a partnership to bring the LINE application exclusively to Telefónica subscribers across key Telefónica Firefox OS markets, including Venezuela,, Peru, Spain, Colombia, Uruguay, Brasil and Mexico. Additional markets to be announced shortly.
The partnership combines Telefónica’s vast reach in Latin America and Europe, with LINE’s rapidly growing popularity in these regions. In fact, LINE has reached over 330 million registered users worldwide at the start of 2014 with growth of over 58 percent in the third quarter of 2013 alone.
The LINE application is available globally via the Firefox OS Marketplace and will be exclusive to Telefónica subscribers in Venezuela, Peru, Spain, Colombia, Uruguay, Brasil and Mexico. The partnership will be supported by significant marketing campaigns by both LINE and Telefónica. In addition, special offers will be presented via Official LINE Accounts in select markets.
“This agreement marks the start of an exciting partnership between LINE and Telefónica. Telefónica is fully committed to bring the value of Firefox OS to our consumers and is already seeing this ecosystem as a fast growing customer base,” said Francisco Montalvo, Director of Group Devices Unit, Telefónica S.A. “LINE’s messaging app enables us to strengthen what we are already offering our customers and will open up even more collaborative opportunities in 2014.”
Since June, Telefónica has launched Firefox OS in seven countries with several other carriers rolling out subsequent launches including Telenor, Deutsche Telekom and TIM.
“By partnering with Telefónica we are underscoring our commitment to our expanding European and Latin American customer base,” said Jeanie Han, Chief Executive Officer, LINE Euro-Americas Corp. “At LINE, we realize the importance of family and friends in Hispanic culture and are very pleased to be able to offer our users expressive sticker messages, convenient voice and video calls, and games to better engage with those closest to them.
The LINE application is now available in the Marketplace, with devices expected to be launched in early Q1 containing the LINE app. Telefónica will also include the LINE application into new OS releases delivered to existing Firefox OS users.
About Telefónica
Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation and number of customers. From this outstanding position in the industry, and with its mobile, fixed and broadband businesses as the key drivers of its growth, Telefónica has focused its strategy on becoming a leading company in the digital world.
The company has a significant presence in 24 countries and a customer base that amounts more than 320 million accesses around the world. Telefónica has a strong presence in Spain, Europe and Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth strategy.
Telefónica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4.551.024.586 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, New York, Lima, and Buenos Aires.