Chinese company, Xiaomi, is planning on introducing its smartphones to the U.S. market before the end of the year, according to statements made by its Chairman Lei Jun.
This news comes as the company gears up for an anticipated $10 billion initial price offering (IPO) in Hong Kong later this year. Xiaomi is China"s fourth largest smartphone maker, behind Huawei, Oppo Electronics Corp. and Vivo Electronics Corp.
Xiaomi doesn"t only make smartphones though, and its various other devices such as speakers, cameras, and other electronics are already available in the U.S. However, this is the first time that the smartphones will be formally available further west than Spain, from the actual company itself. The company will need to link up with a local carriers like AT&T in order to make a successful break into the U.S. market, something that Huawei is struggling to achieve due to allegations relating to national security.
Xiaomi recently revealed a sneak peek of its latest phone, the Mi Mix 2S. Its previous and current phones, such as the Mi Mix 2 which starts at $465, are known for offering great value for money. The company"s most successful smartphones have been its even cheaper Redmi phones.
In the Chinese smartphone market, Xiaomi beats Apple (5th) and Samsung (8th), in terms of market share. Both of those brands are very popular in the U.S., and it wil be interesting to see what impact the new player in the market has on them over the course of 2019.
Source: The Wall Street Journal via The Washington Post