Messaging firm Line made a series of announcements yesterday showing its latest technology bets.
First, the company wants more developers to create chatbots for its main app. It’s creating a new messaging API and software development kit for chatots, and launching an ‘awards scheme’ with a top prize of ¥10m (around $99k) for the best bots created for its app.
Line has also created its own chatbot for Line Music, the streaming service it runs in Japan. The bot enables people to search for and listen to music samples; share tracks with friends, and get recommendations from within the Line messaging interface.
Also interesting: Line’s decision to invest $45m in Snapchat-like social app Snow, which has been hugely popular in Asia since its launch earlier this year.
Note, the two companies are already closely linked: Line’s original parent company Naver is also the parent company of Snow, but the deal will see the now-public Line taking a 25% stake in Snow.
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