(Beijing) — WeChat, the most widely used messaging and social media app in China, is testing a new feature that will allow users to access a variety of mobile services without downloading separate apps.

Experts said the move may affect the business of major smartphone app distributors such as the online Apple Store.

WeChat, owned by Tencent Holdings Ltd., said on its official microblog on Thursday that businesses can start applying to test the feature, which it calls Xiaochengxu, or "Little Program."