(Yicai Global) Jan. 9 -- Mini applications on Tencent Holdings' WeChat had more than 300 million daily active users last year, who combined to spend CNY800 billion (USD115 billion) in the apps.

Spending in the mini apps was close to triple 2018's total, Du Jiahui, deputy general manager of WeChat's open platform, said at the WeChat Open Class Pro event in Guangzhou today. Users of the mini apps makes up about 26 percent of the total on WeChat, which is China's biggest social media app and had 1.15 billion monthly active users as of the end of September.

WeChat launched its mini app function in January 2017, allowing users to browse mini versions of regular phone apps in WeChat without downloading and installing them, and as of September there were already 3 million of the programs.

Du wants applets to help firms create "their own closed business loops" in 2020, he added, saying this will give operators better management over their users.

Using new search features launched last year, mini apps will also better display page content and improve branded service channels, and users will be able to find new applets more easily based on social relationships, content and their location.

WeChat will also add live steaming functionality for marketers and offer packages that allow users to quickly buy products while watching they broadcast, Du said.

Editor: James Boynton