LINE Taiwan has officially announced the upgrade of its LINE MINI app service to an "open platform." This upgrade, centered around "quick activation, diverse applications, and open collaboration," will not only allow brands and developers to jointly generate revenue, but also expand online-to-offline (OMO) usage scenarios through new portals and hardware.
LINE hopes to work with industry partners to create a more flexible and convenient life service experience through the open ecosystem of the MINI App.
Introducing in-app payments and advertising revenue sharing to develop diversified monetization models
This upgrade targets brand revenue and introduces two key new features directly related to monetization.
First up is the In-App Purchase (IAP) mechanism. In the future, after MINI app service or game developers integrate the API, users will be able to complete in-game purchases, virtual goods purchases, or subscription services directly within LINE without having to download a separate app.
LINE has also launched an in-app advertising (In-App Ads) mechanism for brands and developers providing lifestyle information and services, and is open to profit-sharing partnerships. LINE stated that advertising revenue will be shared with brands and developers, creating a win-win situation where both services and revenue are generated simultaneously.
The new portal "MINI Home" is launched, and the LINE Touch sensor device strengthens online and offline integration.
To expand service access and exposure, the LINE MINI App has also implemented two user experience optimizations. The first is the new portal "MINI Home," officially launched today. Located within the LINE Wallet page, this portal aggregates various services, allowing users to more easily discover and activate MINI apps from different brands.
Another key hardware initiative is LINE's planned launch of a new sensor device, "LINE Touch," in the first half of 2026. Users will simply tap their unlocked phone against the device, without downloading an app. Within a second, bringing their unlocked phone close to the device will launch the MINI app's service interface, perfect for redeeming coupons, ordering food, or registering for events, enabling seamless online and offline interactions.
As for "LINE Touch", it is triggered by NFC sensing. Therefore, as long as the mobile phone has built-in NFC function, it can be used by sensing, or it can be used directly by scanning a QR code.
Lower the development threshold and enable painless upgrades to existing LIFF services
LINE emphasized that the LINE MINI App is launched in LINE as a web-based service and can be used in both iOS and Android environments. There is no need to maintain two versions separately, which greatly reduces development and maintenance costs.
Brands that have already developed websites using the LINE Front-end Framework (LIFF) can directly leverage their existing architecture and painlessly upgrade to the LINE MINI App, retaining their existing foundation while enjoying the diverse application benefits of the upgraded platform.
LINE noted that the MINI App is a key service connecting the LINE ecosystem, with over 100 brands in Taiwan already connected. By collaborating with Official Accounts (OAs), it will help brands build a one-stop digital interaction and marketing ecosystem.
