Xiaomi today made good on a promise made last year. At an event held in San Francisco today, it announced plans to enter the U.S. market this year. Rather than jumping in with both feet, Xiaomi’s entry will be rather low-key. Anyone hoping to pick up an inexpensive Xiaomi smartphone or tablet will be disappointed. Xiaomi will instead offer a range of accessories including its Mi fitness band, headphones and power banks through an online store.
“We intend to launch here in the U.S. in a few months,” said Senior Vice-President Hugo Barra. He cited localizing its MIUI Android platform as “incredibly difficult” but it’s not the only challenge the company would face. It would also need to have its devices certified and it could also find itself pulled into some legal wrangles over designs that are often viewed as copies of those of competitors. Nonetheless, it is likely that the company sees smartphones and tablets as a logical next step.
Xiaomi’s entry into the U.S. market is meant to be an introduction to the brand. While its future plans there remain a mystery, it has its eyes on other markets as it continues its global expansion. Currently selling its devices in eight countries, it is headed to Brazil later this year. It is also considering expansion to Russia, the Middle East and additional Asian and Latin American markets.
Xiaomi sold 61.1 million phones in 2014.
Source : Re/code