Update 2: Line Pay is now live.
Update 1: Though it previously gave us an 8 December launch date, Line says the service will launch globally “shortly”.
Japanese messaging app Line is releasing a new update, taking its mobile payment service Line Pay global for the first time.
The company claims to have 170 million active users worldwide. Line Pay will let them make payments for services and at shops that support the option. You’ll be able to register a credit card and buy Line stickers and other content through the Line store.
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While that’s not massively useful right now, Line says it will be adding support for more offline shops and enabling users to send money to each other soon.
Line Pay requires a different password to the one used to access the main app. The iOS version of Line also uses TouchID to secure access to Line Pay functions.
As well as messaging, Line includes games and a camera in a family of apps. While Line is most popular in Japan, execs told us earlier this year that it’s planning a big push into the US market. Making Line Pay a worldwide option is definitely a step towards that goal.
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