Kakao Corp launched its KakaoTalk messaging app for Nokia’s Asha range of feature phones aimed at emerging markets.

Kakao has had huge success in its home market with 93 per cent of smartphone users in South Korea use the messaging app, according to Nielsen. But the company looking to expand its overseas user base, which stretches to more than 100 million users.

The Asha line has traction in India, Latin America and Africa, and KakaoTalk will initially be available for the Asha 500, 501, 502 and 503 devices with the rest of the range to follow soon.

Rival messaging app WhatsApp launched for Asha phones in November last year, while LINE and Tencent’s WeChat are also available for the platform.

LINE is also looking to Latin America to boost its user base, having recently announced the launch of a version of its app for Firefox OS smartphones, through a partnership with Telefonica.