Line Mobile

Line Mobile (stylised as LINE MOBILE) is a division by Line Corporation operates mobile virtual network operator service in Japan and Taiwan, while in Thailand it operates as a light MVNO service provider. Unlike LINE's other service LINE Out (which operates as a paid VoIP service), Line Mobile offers SIM card plans.

LINE MOBILE

General LINE MOBILE logo, used in all served countries LINE MOBILE Thailand Logo
Type	Subsidiary
Founded	21 September 2016 (2016-09-21) (Japan) September 2017 (2017-09) (Thailand) 24 April 2018 (2018-04-24) (Taiwan)
Headquarters	Japan Thailand Taiwan
Parent	Line Corporation
Website	mobile.line.me (Japan) th.linemobile.com (Thailand)

History

Line Mobile was launched in Japan in September 2016 by LINE MOBILE Corporation, a subsidiary of Line Corporation. It initially operates on the NTT DoCoMo network. In Japan, Line Mobile offers plans including free access to LINE application and social network services.

In January 2018, it is announced that LINE Corporation and Softbank Corp had agreed a partnership for Line Mobile. As a result of the partnership, Softbank will hold 51% stake in Line Mobile Corporation[1]. Line Mobile added Softbank network to its service starting July 2018.

International operations

Thailand

Line Mobile operates in Thailand as a sub-licensing brand on the traditional mobile operator dtac, as its agreement with Line Mobile Thailand is limited to brand licensing.[2] The setup, which is similar to Virgin Mobile´s MVNO licensing setup was challenged by telecom consultants,[3] and the network operators, Advanced Info Service and TrueMove, for setting up a MVNO, without a MVNO license, to avoid paying regulatory fees.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), decided Line Mobile would not have to apply for a license under the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) scheme, despite being classified as a MVNO in Japan and Taiwan. However in its resolution, the NBTC board will keep monitoring Line Mobile and ordered it to amend its online registration system as it violates existing regulations, which require registration to be done at a service point in person with an ID card. The NBTC also ordered Line Mobile to improve awareness of the product's features and ownership to its customers, many of whom may lack of essential information about the service, said NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith. "Line Mobile must strictly adhere to the order of the NBTC board, or face punishment by the regulator," Mr Takorn said.[4]

Dtac has yet provided any public information about the amount of subscribers of Line Mobile, since its launch a year ago. However, the app needed to use the service, has 50,000+ downloads on Google Play,[5] and a rating of 2.7 (out of five) based on 247 ratings on Apples App store, as of December 2018.[6]

On September 16, 2019 Line Mobile Thailand, announced it would be renamed to Finn Mobile.[7]

Taiwan

Line Mobile operates in Taiwan as an MVNO services operates on the FarEasTone network. Line Mobile offers cheaper broadband plans with throttled speed, as well as standard 4G speed in regular price.[8]

References

1. "[Japan]LINE MOBILE and SoftBank Execute a Capital Alliance and Partnership to Further Grow the LINE MOBILE MVNO Business - LINE Corporation - ニュース". LINE Corporation.
2. "Line's Thai mobile services challenged by top local carriers". Nikkei Asian Review.
3. "10 reasons why the LINE Mobile service is a MVNO setup". Yozzo.com.
4. "NBTC lets Line Mobile off the hook for MVNO licence". bangkokpost.com.
5. "LINE MOBILE". play.google.com.
6. "LINE MOBILE". itunes.apple.com.
7. "LINE MOBILE is now FINN MOBILE". Support.th.linemobile.com.
8. "【LINE MOBILE】LINE與遠傳電信攜手打造一站式電信服務 簡單辦、輕鬆賺 LINE MOBILE隆重登台！ - LINE Corporation - 新聞". LINE Corporation.