Line is a popular mobile communication application with around 17 million users in Taiwan. (Photo : REUTERS)
Line, a popular instant messaging app, has recently announced its plan to expand its services for Taiwanese users, citing its intention to venture on a digital payment system via Line Pay.
According to a China Times report, the newest feature of the mobile app will allow users to utilize Line as a way to pay for taxi fares, online TV services as well as Japanese comics.
The Japan-based mobile application has a 17-million strong base in Taiwan.
It has teamed up with Taiwan's Cathay United Bank to initiate this endeavor. Line's digital wallet service has a maximum balance of NT$100,000 ($3,180).
Furthermore, Line's Taiwan team through its vice general-manager, Sting Tao, has also revealed its plan of collaborating with taxis to allow its users to book a cab, know its location in a real-time basis and check out the estimated time of the vehicle's arrival.
The cab-booking system has already landed in Japan and is expected to hit Taiwan's roads in summer.
Another payment innovation that comes with the Line Pay launching is the "go Dutch" system, which makes splitting of restaurant payments among friends and colleagues possible.
With this system, users can now easily pay their share for the meal by simply keying in the subtotal and selecting the Line Pay accounts where the dining payments will be accounted to.
Meanwhile, reading licensed Japanese comics through Line's digital wallet service can be availed through the website Manga.
Users can open their own Line Pay accounts with the use of their smartphones, phone numbers, email addresses and personal identification cards. Subscribers can deposit cash via ATM transfer, at key convenience stores and at banks.
