Xiaomi: What to Expect From Chinese Company's US Launch
The Chinese smartphone maker has a plan to infiltrate the U.S. market.
— -- Chinese electronics company Xiaomi announced plans today for its initial roll out in the United States, but don't expect to see any of their highly sought-after smartphones for sale yet.
Speaking to tech media today in San Francisco, Xiaomi's vice president of international products, Hugo Barra, said the company would begin selling the company's accessories, including battery packs, headphones and its Mi Band fitness tracker in the United States in a "few months."
Xiaomi has been called the "Apple of China" by some industry observers for its gigantic smartphones and tablets that have mass appeal, however Barra said the company was being strategic about entering new markets.
"The amount of effort required to bring those products [phones and tablets] to market is significant. We just have to move at the right pace," he said, according to CNET. "So we're accelerating our entry in a sense by bringing simpler products."
Known for making quality, low-cost handsets, Xiaomi soared past Samsung last year as the best selling smartphone maker in China by number of devices sold.