LINE, finally a serious rival for WhatsApp

WhatsApp has become the standard of communication today. At this rate, young people will learn to write "mom" on their smartphone sooner than to say it orally. It seems that no one will be able to kill a service like WhatsApp. However, it seems that he has finally received a worthy rival, one that is gaining many followers there in the East and that is being well received in Europe. LINE, which is what it is called, improves many of the functions of WhatsApp, keeping the best of it.

A priori, it is extremely similar, including the registration in it, where the phone number is requested, and an SMS is sent to us with a verification code, automatically recognized by the application of our smartphone. However, below there is a small change, and that is that we also have to register with an email address and a password. This is really useful, since, later, it will allow us to use the service over the Internet, on any computer, and through other devices, something impossible in WhatsApp.

As if this were not enough, LINE also allows make VOIP calls totally unlimited, so it will not be necessary to have a second application that does this. On the other hand, it includes a function that allows us to update our status, as if it were a kind of Twitter, where then our contacts can see our updated status and others. WhatsApp allows us to change our message, which, in principle, should reflect our availability to speak. However, users have found another function for it, and that is to use it to express their mood or give any other message they want to convey to others. LINE has seen this, and has introduced a small microblogging service designed especially for this. And it will be as easy to see them as two taps on the application. As it cannot be otherwise, it also includes special icons and stickers, allowing us, likewise, send pictures, videos and voice messages.

As for its expansion, it must be said that it has had great success in the eastern countries, and that it is now being received in the West with a great reception. There are many who are enthusiastic about this application. Finding contacts is very easy, since we can do it through your phone, if we have it saved in the agenda, or looking for directly your chosen email or pseudonym.

LINE is a totally free application available for Android, in Google Play, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Windows PC and Mac OS X. At the moment, of course, it is only available in English and in Eastern languages, although it is a matter of time before it will be translated into Spanish if it gains enough followers, something that will not it will be too complicated considering the spread of this language around the world. However, even in English, it is very easy to use, very intuitive and it is almost imperceptible that it is not in Spanish.