April Fool's Day never gets old. The day dedicated to light-hearted pranking of our family and friends and a good laugh is all we need to forget all things bad and keep going ahead right?

There are pranks aplenty. A simple online search and you can get a lot of ideas. Companies aren't bad in this game either. Things can get funny when pranks are pulled on customers, unsuspecting or otherwise.

A Zomato customer posted his experience on Twitter. He apparently got a message from his delivery man saying 'Lol! Sorry not coming! Your order was never placed!'. It was apparently a prank.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AprilFoolDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AprilFoolDay</a><a href="https://twitter.com/zomato?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zomato</a> 
Did something for today 
.. 
 
Hey! I’ve just placed an order for you on Zomato. You can track the order status here <a href="https://t.co/Rri45EJmkh">pic.twitter.com/Rri45EJmkh</a>
— Rohit Arora (@rohitarora_25) <a href="https://twitter.com/rohitarora_25/status/1509734325943934976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Oppo launched its latest product 'Opp Gotcha'. The dazzling features include a '1422 Hz disply', 'a very clicky button' and more. Check out the video below

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The wait is over. Say hello to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OPPOGotcha?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OPPOGotcha</a>. Don’t be fooled by its tiny size. Incredible potential awaits 👉 <a href="https://t.co/Ez126AQNev">https://t.co/Ez126AQNev</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qec23ZPafu">pic.twitter.com/Qec23ZPafu</a>
— OPPO India (@OPPOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/OPPOIndia/status/1509761388566446082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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OnePlus Co-Founder Carl Pei's Nothing launched Another (1) phone.

"Say hello to just Another (1). You’ve seen a phone just like this before. Experience edge-to-edge monotony. It’s inspiringly uninspired. Utterly unoriginal. And exactly the same as everything else. Coming to bore you soon." reads the tweet

Xiaomi India decided to give everyone a boost making 'ConfiBoost' which the company said would help everyone achieve anything

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We're excited to announce the launch of the all-new <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ConfiBOOST?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ConfiBOOST</a> - Mint Tablets made for Mi Fans. ⚡ 
ConfiBOOST Tablets help you achieve anything, only if you believe in it! (lol jk😁)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AlwaysBelieve?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AlwaysBelieve</a> 
 
Let's TAB: <a href="https://t.co/k5b4pnhZGw">https://t.co/k5b4pnhZGw</a> <a href="https://t.co/G109JjNSnQ">pic.twitter.com/G109JjNSnQ</a>
— Xiaomi India (@XiaomiIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/XiaomiIndia/status/1509794438767575040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Australian police felt like cracking one too. On April 1, the State Police of Victoria said that they were launching a camel division

“Victoria Police will soon take ownership of Camels as a part of an expansion to mounted operations. The new one and two hump camels will be a welcome addition to the current herd, helping the organisation address both climate change and fuel price hikes,” read the Facebook post.

This did not stop here. Victorian police went ahead and listed advantages of Mounted Camel Division. They flaunted the “fuel-efficient, all-terrain vehicle” that will, as they said, cut down expenses of water cannons.

'Tis a season to laugh our hearts out.

April Fool's Day never gets old. The day dedicated to light-hearted pranking of our family and friends and a good laugh is all we need to forget all things bad and keep going ahead right?

April Fool's Day never gets old. The day dedicated to light-hearted pranking of our family and friends and a good laugh is all we need to forget all things bad and keep going ahead right? There are pranks aplenty. A simple online search and you can get a lot of ideas. Companies aren't bad in this game either. Things can get funny when pranks are pulled on customers, unsuspecting or otherwise. A Zomato customer posted his experience on Twitter. He apparently got a message from his delivery man saying 'Lol! Sorry not coming! Your order was never placed!'. It was apparently a prank. #AprilFoolDay@zomato Did something for today .. Hey! I’ve just placed an order for you on Zomato. You can track the order status here pic.twitter.com/Rri45EJmkh — Rohit Arora (@rohitarora_25) April 1, 2022 × Oppo launched its latest product 'Opp Gotcha'. The dazzling features include a '1422 Hz disply', 'a very clicky button' and more. Check out the video below The wait is over. Say hello to #OPPOGotcha. Don’t be fooled by its tiny size. Incredible potential awaits 👉 https://t.co/Ez126AQNev pic.twitter.com/Qec23ZPafu — OPPO India (@OPPOIndia) April 1, 2022 × OnePlus Co-Founder Carl Pei's Nothing launched Another (1) phone. "Say hello to just Another (1). You’ve seen a phone just like this before. Experience edge-to-edge monotony. It’s inspiringly uninspired. Utterly unoriginal. And exactly the same as everything else. Coming to bore you soon." reads the tweet Xiaomi India decided to give everyone a boost making 'ConfiBoost' which the company said would help everyone achieve anything We're excited to announce the launch of the all-new #ConfiBOOST - Mint Tablets made for Mi Fans. ⚡ ConfiBOOST Tablets help you achieve anything, only if you believe in it! (lol jk😁)#AlwaysBelieve Let's TAB: https://t.co/k5b4pnhZGw pic.twitter.com/G109JjNSnQ — Xiaomi India (@XiaomiIndia) April 1, 2022 × Australian police felt like cracking one too. On April 1, the State Police of Victoria said that they were launching a camel division “Victoria Police will soon take ownership of Camels as a part of an expansion to mounted operations. The new one and two hump camels will be a welcome addition to the current herd, helping the organisation address both climate change and fuel price hikes,” read the Facebook post. This did not stop here. Victorian police went ahead and listed advantages of Mounted Camel Division. They flaunted the “fuel-efficient, all-terrain vehicle” that will, as they said, cut down expenses of water cannons. 'Tis a season to laugh our hearts out.

April Fool's Day: How Zomato, Oppo and even Australian police fooled people

Two Chinese smartphone makers operating in India may be fined Rs 10 <a name="_Hlk91924825">billion (US $134&nbsp;million approx.) </a>for violating a tax law relating to non-disclosures of transactions with associated enterprises.

On December 21, the Income Tax department had carried out search and seizure operations across India after receiving a tip-off on select foreign-controlled mobile communication and mobile handset manufacturing companies and their associated persons.

Several premises in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Rajasthan and Delhi NCR were covered.

“The search revealed that two major companies have made remittance in the nature of royalty, to and on behalf of its group companies located abroad, which aggregates to over Rs 5,500 crore. The claim of such expenses does not seem to be appropriate in light of the facts and evidence gathered during the search,” the I-T department said in a statement without naming the Chinese mobile manufacturers, but media reports confirmed the names Xiaomi and Oppo.

“It is gathered that both these companies had not complied with the regulatory mandate prescribed under the Income-tax Act, 1961 for disclosure of transactions with associated enterprises. Such lapse makes them liable for penal action under the Income-tax Act, 1961, the quantum of which could be in the range of more than Rs 1,000 crore (US $ <a name="_Hlk91924825">134&nbsp;</a>million approx.),” the CBDT statement added.

The tax sleuths also found that one of the companies utilised the services of another entity located in India but did not comply with the provisions of tax deduction at source introduced since April 1, 2020, and the quantum of liability of TDS on this account could be around Rs 3 billion (US $42 million).

(With inputs from agencies)

Two Chinese smartphone makers operating in India may be fined Rs 10 billion (US $134 million approx.) for violating a tax law relating to non-disclosures of transactions with associated enterprises.

Two Chinese smartphone makers operating in India may be fined Rs 10 billion (US $134 million approx.) for violating a tax law relating to non-disclosures of transactions with associated enterprises. On December 21, the Income Tax department had carried out search and seizure operations across India after receiving a tip-off on select foreign-controlled mobile communication and mobile handset manufacturing companies and their associated persons. Several premises in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Rajasthan and Delhi NCR were covered. “The search revealed that two major companies have made remittance in the nature of royalty, to and on behalf of its group companies located abroad, which aggregates to over Rs 5,500 crore. The claim of such expenses does not seem to be appropriate in light of the facts and evidence gathered during the search,” the I-T department said in a statement without naming the Chinese mobile manufacturers, but media reports confirmed the names Xiaomi and Oppo. “It is gathered that both these companies had not complied with the regulatory mandate prescribed under the Income-tax Act, 1961 for disclosure of transactions with associated enterprises. Such lapse makes them liable for penal action under the Income-tax Act, 1961, the quantum of which could be in the range of more than Rs 1,000 crore (US $ 134 million approx.),” the CBDT statement added. The tax sleuths also found that one of the companies utilised the services of another entity located in India but did not comply with the provisions of tax deduction at source introduced since April 1, 2020, and the quantum of liability of TDS on this account could be around Rs 3 billion (US $42 million). (With inputs from agencies)

Two Chinese phone makers break tax laws in India, may face $134 million fine

ISRO has signed a deal to share its emergency messaging service with Chinese phone maker OPPO. Why are Indian government agencies working with Chinese companies? What happened to decoupling with China? Palki Sharma asks.

Gravitas: ISRO signs deal with Chinese phone maker OPPO

China's Oppo cancelled the live online launch of its flagship smartphone in India on Wednesday after a border clash between the two countries that has renewed calls from local Indian trader groups to shun Chinese products.

Soldiers from India and China fought each other with nail-studded clubs and stones on a disputed Himalayan mountain frontier this week, leading to the death of 20 Indian soldiers in the worst clash since 1967.

The clashes risk souring sentiment for big Chinese investors who were eyeing the Indian market and already faced pressure as anti-China sentiment festered during the coronavirus outbreak.

Chinese firms such as Great Wall, SAIC and Bytedance have placed major bets on India, where investors like Alibaba also fund many startups. Chinese smartphone brands, including Oppo and Xiaomi, account for eight of every 10 smartphones sold in India.

Oppo, which has a phone-assembly plant in India, had earlier announced a "live unveiling" of its new Find X2 smartphone models would be held on Wednesday, but a YouTube link that had to go live at 4 p.m. local time was not available for viewing.

To launch the phone, the company instead uploaded a 20-minute, pre-recorded video which included a brief highlight of Oppo's efforts to support Indian authorities in preventing the spread of coronavirus.

Oppo did not respond to Reuters' request on why the live launch was cancelled, but a person familiar with the company's thinking said the decision was taken to avoid any possible uproar on social media.

"There is tension in the environment," said the person.

Even before the border clashes, New Delhi in April changed its foreign investment policy for neighbouring countries, a move that upset Chinese investors as the Indian government now screens all incoming investments from there.

"The current government will play hardball... I do not think any new approvals for China proposals will happen in a hurry," said Abhishek Saxena, co-founder of Indian law firm Phoenix Legal that advises Chinese clients.

The Confederation of All India Traders, a group representing roughly 70 million brick-and-mortar retailers, said on Wednesday its members will boycott imported Chinese goods despite the loss their businesses will suffer.

A Twitter user, Uzair Hasan Rizvi, uploaded a video that showed some people throwing a "Chinese TV" from a high-storey building in Gujarat state and then dancing on it before dismantling it. Reuters could not independently confirm when the video was created.

Hindu nationalist group Swadeshi Jagran Manch, which advocates for self reliance, urged Indian authorities to ban Chinese companies from participating in government tenders.

On Wednesday, police arrested some members of the group who protested near the Chinese embassy in New Delhi and chanted slogans such as "Made in China down down".

China's Oppo cancelled the live online launch of its flagship smartphone in India on Wednesday after a border clash between the two countries that has renewed calls from local Indian trader groups to shun Chinese products.

China's Oppo cancelled the live online launch of its flagship smartphone in India on Wednesday after a border clash between the two countries that has renewed calls from local Indian trader groups to shun Chinese products. Soldiers from India and China fought each other with nail-studded clubs and stones on a disputed Himalayan mountain frontier this week, leading to the death of 20 Indian soldiers in the worst clash since 1967. The clashes risk souring sentiment for big Chinese investors who were eyeing the Indian market and already faced pressure as anti-China sentiment festered during the coronavirus outbreak. Chinese firms such as Great Wall, SAIC and Bytedance have placed major bets on India, where investors like Alibaba also fund many startups. Chinese smartphone brands, including Oppo and Xiaomi, account for eight of every 10 smartphones sold in India. Oppo, which has a phone-assembly plant in India, had earlier announced a "live unveiling" of its new Find X2 smartphone models would be held on Wednesday, but a YouTube link that had to go live at 4 p.m. local time was not available for viewing. To launch the phone, the company instead uploaded a 20-minute, pre-recorded video which included a brief highlight of Oppo's efforts to support Indian authorities in preventing the spread of coronavirus. Oppo did not respond to Reuters' request on why the live launch was cancelled, but a person familiar with the company's thinking said the decision was taken to avoid any possible uproar on social media. "There is tension in the environment," said the person. Even before the border clashes, New Delhi in April changed its foreign investment policy for neighbouring countries, a move that upset Chinese investors as the Indian government now screens all incoming investments from there. "The current government will play hardball... I do not think any new approvals for China proposals will happen in a hurry," said Abhishek Saxena, co-founder of Indian law firm Phoenix Legal that advises Chinese clients. The Confederation of All India Traders, a group representing roughly 70 million brick-and-mortar retailers, said on Wednesday its members will boycott imported Chinese goods despite the loss their businesses will suffer. A Twitter user, Uzair Hasan Rizvi, uploaded a video that showed some people throwing a "Chinese TV" from a high-storey building in Gujarat state and then dancing on it before dismantling it. Reuters could not independently confirm when the video was created. Hindu nationalist group Swadeshi Jagran Manch, which advocates for self reliance, urged Indian authorities to ban Chinese companies from participating in government tenders. On Wednesday, police arrested some members of the group who protested near the Chinese embassy in New Delhi and chanted slogans such as "Made in China down down".

Oppo cancels live online phone launch in India amid calls to boycott Chinese goods

China's Xiaomi Corp and Oppo are importing some smartphone models into India as their local plants struggle to get back to production levels needed to meet demand that built up during lockdown, sources familiar with matter said. 
The move is a costly one as the world`s second-largest smartphone market imposes steep tariffs on imports of devices and components - part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s push to boost manufacturing in India. Most foreign brands in India make nearly all of their smartphones locally.

It also underscores the challenges India faces in kick-starting production as new coronavirus cases soar to nearly 300,000 while more than 8,000 people have died.

Manufacturing facilities in India have been allowed since May to resume operations but several smartphone plants are still grappling with labour shortages, three sources told Reuters.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/zoom-shuts-account-of-us-based-chinese-dissidents-after-tiananmen-anniversary-meeting-304999">Also read:&nbsp;Zoom shuts account of US-based Chinese dissidents after Tiananmen anniversary meeting</a>

At the same time, demand is high because phones - not deemed essential goods by the government - were not allowed to be sold during the nationwide lockdown of nearly two months.

The bulk of the Xiaomi smartphones sold in India are made by contract manufacturer Foxconn in the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, while Oppo assembles its India-made phones at a plant on the outskirts of New Delhi.

It was not immediately clear how many phones the Chinese brands are now importing, the sources added, declining to be identified as they were not authorised to discuss the matter with media.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/apple-rolls-out-cheaper-iphone-as-pandemic-curbs-spending-292856">Also read:&nbsp;Apple rolls out cheaper iPhone as pandemic curbs spending</a>

"This is purely to take care of the demand that is there and the fact that they (Xiaomi) are not able to produce to meet demand," one of the sources said, adding the imports were a short-term measure until production and distribution gets back to normal.

Xiaomi did not respond to a request for comment and Foxconn declined to comment.

Oppo`s plant, which also makes phones for the OnePlus and Realme brands owned by common parent BBK Electronics, reopened with reduced staffing on May 7. But it had to close again for more than a week after several workers tested positive for the coronavirus.

In a few instances, staff at Oppo and other smartphone plants have either resigned or not shown up for work for fear of contracting the virus on assembly lines where people work closely, sources said.

"My father said if you live, you`ll find another job," one worker who recently resigned from the Oppo factory told Reuters, asking not to be named.

Oppo India declined to comment.

The production woes have meant delays to sales plans.

OnePlus, which competes with Apple Inc in India`s $400-plus smartphone segment, has had to stagger sales of its latest model on Amazon`s India website.

Realme said in an emailed statement it has been challenging to meet market demand due to supply chain disruptions and "limited production capabilities".

It added it would not risk the health of factory workers by ramping up production quickly and that it expected to be at normal manufacturing capacity by the end of July.

China's Xiaomi Corp and Oppo are importing some smartphone models into India as their local plants struggle to get back to production levels needed to meet demand that built up during lockdown, sources familiar with matter said.

China's Xiaomi Corp and Oppo are importing some smartphone models into India as their local plants struggle to get back to production levels needed to meet demand that built up during lockdown, sources familiar with matter said. The move is a costly one as the world`s second-largest smartphone market imposes steep tariffs on imports of devices and components - part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s push to boost manufacturing in India. Most foreign brands in India make nearly all of their smartphones locally. It also underscores the challenges India faces in kick-starting production as new coronavirus cases soar to nearly 300,000 while more than 8,000 people have died. Manufacturing facilities in India have been allowed since May to resume operations but several smartphone plants are still grappling with labour shortages, three sources told Reuters. Also read: Zoom shuts account of US-based Chinese dissidents after Tiananmen anniversary meeting At the same time, demand is high because phones - not deemed essential goods by the government - were not allowed to be sold during the nationwide lockdown of nearly two months. The bulk of the Xiaomi smartphones sold in India are made by contract manufacturer Foxconn in the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, while Oppo assembles its India-made phones at a plant on the outskirts of New Delhi. It was not immediately clear how many phones the Chinese brands are now importing, the sources added, declining to be identified as they were not authorised to discuss the matter with media. Also read: Apple rolls out cheaper iPhone as pandemic curbs spending "This is purely to take care of the demand that is there and the fact that they (Xiaomi) are not able to produce to meet demand," one of the sources said, adding the imports were a short-term measure until production and distribution gets back to normal. Xiaomi did not respond to a request for comment and Foxconn declined to comment. Oppo`s plant, which also makes phones for the OnePlus and Realme brands owned by common parent BBK Electronics, reopened with reduced staffing on May 7. But it had to close again for more than a week after several workers tested positive for the coronavirus. In a few instances, staff at Oppo and other smartphone plants have either resigned or not shown up for work for fear of contracting the virus on assembly lines where people work closely, sources said. "My father said if you live, you`ll find another job," one worker who recently resigned from the Oppo factory told Reuters, asking not to be named. Oppo India declined to comment. The production woes have meant delays to sales plans. OnePlus, which competes with Apple Inc in India`s $400-plus smartphone segment, has had to stagger sales of its latest model on Amazon`s India website. Realme said in an emailed statement it has been challenging to meet market demand due to supply chain disruptions and "limited production capabilities". It added it would not risk the health of factory workers by ramping up production quickly and that it expected to be at normal manufacturing capacity by the end of July.

China's Xiaomi, Oppo turn to expensive smartphone imports for India market as plants struggle: sources

In a move to challenge the dominance of Google's Play Store, China's Xiaomi, Huawei Technologies, Oppo and Vivo are reportedly joining hands to create a common platform for developers outside China to upload apps onto all of their app stores simultaneously, news agency Reuters reported quoting sources.

In a move to challenge the dominance of Google's Play Store, China's Xiaomi, Huawei Technologies, Oppo and Vivo are reportedly joining hands to create a common platform for developers outside China to upload apps onto all of their app stores simultaneously, news agency Reuters reported quoting sources. The four companies are ironing out kinks in what is known as the Global Developer Service Alliance (GDSA), the report added. The platform aims to make it easier for developers of games, music, movies and other apps to market their apps in overseas markets, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The GDSA was initially aiming to launch in March, sources said, although it is not clear how that will be affected by the recent coronavirus outbreak. A prototype website says the platform will initially cover nine "regions" including India, Indonesia and Russia. The decision comes even as China struggled to contain the social media outbursts over its fight against coronavirus. The Communist government in China, which usually has a tight grip on the social media activities of its citizens, struggled to respond after the Chinese national lashed out at the government for its slow response to coronavirus and its attempt to muffle the social media in the country. China’s social media censorship machine was tested last week when Li Wenliang, a Chinese doctor who had been reprimanded for issuing an early warning about coronavirus, died of the disease, triggering widespread outrage online. Several social media posts demanding freedom of speech cropped up moments after Dr Li's death and continued for several days before the Chinese government rushed to contain the outflow of such posts.

China's mobile giants to take on Google's Play store: Report

Samsung's plan to&nbsp;outsource a fifth of its smartphone production to&nbsp;China&nbsp;next year may help it compete with low-cost&nbsp;rivals&nbsp;such as Huawei and Xiaomi but it's a strategy fraught with risks, people with familiar with the move said.

Samsung&nbsp;Electronics, which shut its last in-house Chinese smartphone factory in October, is quietly moving production of some Galaxy A models to contractors such as Wingtech, which are little known&nbsp;outside&nbsp;China.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/samsung-says-to-shut-down-united-states-cpu-research-division-260078">Samsung&nbsp;</a>has been coy about&nbsp;the volumes involved but sources said the South Korean tech giant plans to ship some 60 million&nbsp;phones&nbsp;made&nbsp;in&nbsp;China&nbsp;by so-called original design manufacturers (ODMs) next year&nbsp;out&nbsp;of a total of about&nbsp;300 million devices.

Wingtech and other ODMs make&nbsp;phones&nbsp;for multiple brands - including Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo - giving them the economies of scale to keep costs down, and the nimble contractors can develop and produce new budget&nbsp;phones&nbsp;quickly.

Critics of&nbsp;Samsung's strategy say it risks losing control of quality and undermining its manufacturing expertise by&nbsp;outsourcing, and may even help&nbsp;rivals&nbsp;by giving contractors the extra volume they need to lowers costs further for all.

Samsung&nbsp;can ill afford another quality crisis. It scrapped its flagship Galaxy Note 7 in 2016 after reports the expensive&nbsp;phones&nbsp;were catching fire and delayed the launch of its folding phone this year after screen defects were identified.

But with margins razor-thin for budget smartphones, people familiar with&nbsp;Samsung's strategy say it has little choice but to follow&nbsp;rivals&nbsp;and use Chinese ODMs to shave costs.

"This is an inevitable strategy rather than a good strategy," a source with knowledge of&nbsp;Samsung's Chinese operations said.

Samsung&nbsp;said in a statement to Reuters that it has been making limited lines of smartphones&nbsp;outside its own plants to broaden its existing portfolio and "ensure efficient management in the market". It declined to say how many&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;phones&nbsp;are&nbsp;made&nbsp;by ODMs and said future volumes had yet to be determined.

Wingtech did not respond to a request for comment.

Research firm Counterpoint says ODMs can procure all the components needed for $100-$250 smartphones&nbsp;for 10 per cent&nbsp;to 15&nbsp;per cent less than major brands with their own factories in&nbsp;China.

One supply chain source said Wingtech can get some parts for up to 30 per cent less than&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;Electronics pays in Vietnam, where it has three factories churning&nbsp;out&nbsp;smartphones, TVs and home appliances.

Wingtech started making tablets and&nbsp;phones&nbsp;for&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;in 2017, accounting for 3&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of its smartphones. That's expected to hit 8 per cent, or 24 million units, this year, according to IHS Markit.

Samsung's&nbsp;outsourcing plans involve its lower and mid-range Galaxy A series, with Wingtech having a hand in both design and production, sources said. The A6S, one of the models to be&nbsp;outsourced, costs from 1,299 yuan ($185) in&nbsp;China.

The Wingtech&nbsp;phones&nbsp;will mainly go to Southeast Asia and South America, one source said.&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;is gaining share in both at the expense of Huawei, which is suffering from U.S. sanctions that bar it from putting all Google's services on new&nbsp;phones.

While&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;is anxious to remain global smartphone market leader, some analysts worry it might not be worth the risk is given that profits in the budget phone business are scarce for all.

"Low-end&nbsp;phones&nbsp;are a headache for&nbsp;Samsung," said CW Chung, head of research at Nomura in Korea.

Chung said they were now commodity products and it was "nonsense" to make them in-house. But he and other experts said if&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;gave ODMs&nbsp;more&nbsp;volume, that could cut contractors' costs further and boost their experience and knowledge.

"If ODM firms become&nbsp;more&nbsp;competitive,&nbsp;rivals&nbsp;will be&nbsp;more&nbsp;competitive," Tom Kang, an analyst at Counterpoint said, adding that once a company loses its expertise in making low-end&nbsp;phones&nbsp;by&nbsp;outsourcing, it is difficult to regain the know-how.

Chung said&nbsp;Samsung's strategic shift signalled the declining manufacturing prowess of the company, once a low-cost Asian manufacturer and now the world's top producer of high-end electrical consumer goods.

US rival Apple&nbsp;outsources production to Taiwan's Foxconn Technology, which has factories in&nbsp;China, but Apple still designs its&nbsp;phones&nbsp;in California.

Samsung&nbsp;said in an emailed response to Reuters that it will be involved in the oversight of the design and development of smartphones&nbsp;produced by ODMs.

One person familiar with&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;and Chinese ODMs said contractors save money by cutting some steps&nbsp;out&nbsp;of the manufacturing process, potentially raising quality issues. He declined to go into details.

With that in mind,&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;has been pairing South Korean component suppliers with Chinese contractors to keep closer tabs on quality control, the person said.

"We understand the logic of increasing the production volume with Chinese contractors is a strategic business decision but that doesn't mean all of us are happy about&nbsp;it," an executive at a Korean component supplier said.

Samsung&nbsp;told Reuters it has applied the same quality checks and standards it does with all its devices, adding that it was committed to delivering high-quality products.

Historically,&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;has designed and produced almost all its&nbsp;phones&nbsp;in-house in vast factories in Vietnam and,&nbsp;more&nbsp;recently, India while winding down production in South Korea and&nbsp;China&nbsp;where labour costs&nbsp;more.

But Roh Tae-moon, the youngest executive to become a president at&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;Electronics, is championing the new ODM strategy in his role as number two at the mobile division, two people familiar with the matter said.

"It is crucial to cut costs to maintain competitiveness with Huawei and other Chinese handset makers," said a&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;insider who declined to be named.

Other Korean firms have also embraced&nbsp;outsourcing. LG Electronics, whose smartphones&nbsp;have been losing money for several years, has said it plans to expand its ODM&nbsp;output from budget models to mid-priced&nbsp;phones.

"Smartphones&nbsp;have come down to a battle over costs.&nbsp;It's a game of survival now," said Kim Yong-serk, a former&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;mobile executive who is a professor at South Korea's Sungkyunkwan University.

Samsung's plan to outsource a fifth of its smartphone production to China next year may help it compete with low-cost rivals such as Huawei and Xiaomi but it's a strategy fraught with risks, people with familiar with the move said.

Samsung's plan to outsource a fifth of its smartphone production to China next year may help it compete with low-cost rivals such as Huawei and Xiaomi but it's a strategy fraught with risks, people with familiar with the move said. Samsung Electronics, which shut its last in-house Chinese smartphone factory in October, is quietly moving production of some Galaxy A models to contractors such as Wingtech, which are little known outside China. Samsung has been coy about the volumes involved but sources said the South Korean tech giant plans to ship some 60 million phones made in China by so-called original design manufacturers (ODMs) next year out of a total of about 300 million devices. Wingtech and other ODMs make phones for multiple brands - including Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo - giving them the economies of scale to keep costs down, and the nimble contractors can develop and produce new budget phones quickly. Critics of Samsung's strategy say it risks losing control of quality and undermining its manufacturing expertise by outsourcing, and may even help rivals by giving contractors the extra volume they need to lowers costs further for all. Samsung can ill afford another quality crisis. It scrapped its flagship Galaxy Note 7 in 2016 after reports the expensive phones were catching fire and delayed the launch of its folding phone this year after screen defects were identified. But with margins razor-thin for budget smartphones, people familiar with Samsung's strategy say it has little choice but to follow rivals and use Chinese ODMs to shave costs. "This is an inevitable strategy rather than a good strategy," a source with knowledge of Samsung's Chinese operations said. Samsung said in a statement to Reuters that it has been making limited lines of smartphones outside its own plants to broaden its existing portfolio and "ensure efficient management in the market". It declined to say how many Samsung phones are made by ODMs and said future volumes had yet to be determined. Wingtech did not respond to a request for comment. Research firm Counterpoint says ODMs can procure all the components needed for $100-$250 smartphones for 10 per cent to 15 per cent less than major brands with their own factories in China. One supply chain source said Wingtech can get some parts for up to 30 per cent less than Samsung Electronics pays in Vietnam, where it has three factories churning out smartphones, TVs and home appliances. Wingtech started making tablets and phones for Samsung in 2017, accounting for 3 per cent of its smartphones. That's expected to hit 8 per cent, or 24 million units, this year, according to IHS Markit. Samsung's outsourcing plans involve its lower and mid-range Galaxy A series, with Wingtech having a hand in both design and production, sources said. The A6S, one of the models to be outsourced, costs from 1,299 yuan ($185) in China. The Wingtech phones will mainly go to Southeast Asia and South America, one source said. Samsung is gaining share in both at the expense of Huawei, which is suffering from U.S. sanctions that bar it from putting all Google's services on new phones. While Samsung is anxious to remain global smartphone market leader, some analysts worry it might not be worth the risk is given that profits in the budget phone business are scarce for all. "Low-end phones are a headache for Samsung," said CW Chung, head of research at Nomura in Korea. Chung said they were now commodity products and it was "nonsense" to make them in-house. But he and other experts said if Samsung gave ODMs more volume, that could cut contractors' costs further and boost their experience and knowledge. "If ODM firms become more competitive, rivals will be more competitive," Tom Kang, an analyst at Counterpoint said, adding that once a company loses its expertise in making low-end phones by outsourcing, it is difficult to regain the know-how. Chung said Samsung's strategic shift signalled the declining manufacturing prowess of the company, once a low-cost Asian manufacturer and now the world's top producer of high-end electrical consumer goods. US rival Apple outsources production to Taiwan's Foxconn Technology, which has factories in China, but Apple still designs its phones in California. Samsung said in an emailed response to Reuters that it will be involved in the oversight of the design and development of smartphones produced by ODMs. One person familiar with Samsung and Chinese ODMs said contractors save money by cutting some steps out of the manufacturing process, potentially raising quality issues. He declined to go into details. With that in mind, Samsung has been pairing South Korean component suppliers with Chinese contractors to keep closer tabs on quality control, the person said. "We understand the logic of increasing the production volume with Chinese contractors is a strategic business decision but that doesn't mean all of us are happy about it," an executive at a Korean component supplier said. Samsung told Reuters it has applied the same quality checks and standards it does with all its devices, adding that it was committed to delivering high-quality products. Historically, Samsung has designed and produced almost all its phones in-house in vast factories in Vietnam and, more recently, India while winding down production in South Korea and China where labour costs more. But Roh Tae-moon, the youngest executive to become a president at Samsung Electronics, is championing the new ODM strategy in his role as number two at the mobile division, two people familiar with the matter said. "It is crucial to cut costs to maintain competitiveness with Huawei and other Chinese handset makers," said a Samsung insider who declined to be named. Other Korean firms have also embraced outsourcing. LG Electronics, whose smartphones have been losing money for several years, has said it plans to expand its ODM output from budget models to mid-priced phones. "Smartphones have come down to a battle over costs. It's a game of survival now," said Kim Yong-serk, a former Samsung mobile executive who is a professor at South Korea's Sungkyunkwan University.

Samsung to outsource production to China to fend off rivals

Apple lost more ground in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/apple-offers-record-bounty-to-researchers-who-find-iphone-security-flaws-241605">shrinking smartphone market</a> last quarter, with a sales tracker saying the tech giant was pushed off the top-three seller list by a Chinese rival.

Apple fell to fourth place in global smartphone sales, shipping 35.3 million iPhones in the second quarter compared to the 36.2 million units shipped by Oppo, according to a report from IHS Markit this week.

South Korean consumer electronics titan Samsung remained in first place with 23 per cent of the market, having shipped 75.1 million smartphones, China's Huawei shipped 58.7 million smartphones to claim 18 per cent of the market, IHS Markit calculated.

"Apple continues to face challenges in terms of unit shipments -- a trend that is unlikely to be fixed soon," IHS smartphone research and analysis director Jusy Hong said in an online post.

While California-based Apple has been aggressively promoting iPhones, current-generation smartphones have "super-premium" prices while models a few years old are still costly compared to bargain Android-powered handsets, the analyst reasoned.

Other smartphone market trackers such as Counterpoint Research and International Data Corporation concluded that while iPhone shipments sank in the second quarter, Apple remained in third place what it came to global shipments.

Huawei, meanwhile, saw smartphone shipments rise despite the overall market contracting and US-China trade tensions, market trackers reported.

Chinese rivals rising

Huawei -- considered the world leader in superfast fifth-generation, or 5G, equipment and the world's number two smartphone producer -- has been blacklisted by US President Donald Trump amid suspicions it provides a backdoor for Chinese intelligence services. The company denies those charges.

"The effect of the ban did not translate into falling shipments during this quarter, which will not be the case in the future," Counterpoint associate research director Tarun Pathak said in the firm's market report.

"In the coming quarters, Huawei is likely to be aggressive in its home market and register some growth there, but it will not be enough to offset for the decline in its overseas shipments."

The combined global smartphone market share of Chinese firms Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and Realme reached a new high of 42 per cent in the second quarter, according to Counterpoint.

"These brands have been aggressively expanding outside China and achieving growth offsetting the saturation in their home market," said Counterpoint research analyst Varun Mishra.

"Their strategies and product portfolios are more aligned to the local needs and preferences, which is one of their key strengths."

Apple has been striving to wean itself off its reliance on iPhone sales with a focus on services, digital content and related gadgets.

In the just-ended quarter, Apple for the first time took in less than half its revenue from the iPhone, the longtime cash and profit driver for the company.

Apple managed to grow its overall revenues, albeit by a modest one per cent, to $53.8 billion, even as iPhone revenues plunged nearly 12 per cent in the April-June period.

The company delivered strong growth from digital content and services including Apply Pay and Apple Music, along with wearables and accessories like the Apple Watch and Air Pods.

Apple has stopped reporting iPhone unit sales, but chief executive Tim Cook said during an earnings call that there was a "strong customer response" to iPhone promotions and financing programs.

Apple saw its sales improve in the crucial China market, which included a double-digit increase in services revenue driven by strong growth in the App Store there, according to the company.

The sale of iPhones in that country was boosted by factors including pricing moves by Apple, and trade-in and financing programs, Cook said.

Apple lost more ground in the shrinking smartphone market last quarter, with a sales tracker saying the tech giant was pushed off the top-three seller list by a Chinese rival.

Apple lost more ground in the shrinking smartphone market last quarter, with a sales tracker saying the tech giant was pushed off the top-three seller list by a Chinese rival. Apple fell to fourth place in global smartphone sales, shipping 35.3 million iPhones in the second quarter compared to the 36.2 million units shipped by Oppo, according to a report from IHS Markit this week. South Korean consumer electronics titan Samsung remained in first place with 23 per cent of the market, having shipped 75.1 million smartphones, China's Huawei shipped 58.7 million smartphones to claim 18 per cent of the market, IHS Markit calculated. "Apple continues to face challenges in terms of unit shipments -- a trend that is unlikely to be fixed soon," IHS smartphone research and analysis director Jusy Hong said in an online post. While California-based Apple has been aggressively promoting iPhones, current-generation smartphones have "super-premium" prices while models a few years old are still costly compared to bargain Android-powered handsets, the analyst reasoned. Other smartphone market trackers such as Counterpoint Research and International Data Corporation concluded that while iPhone shipments sank in the second quarter, Apple remained in third place what it came to global shipments. Huawei, meanwhile, saw smartphone shipments rise despite the overall market contracting and US-China trade tensions, market trackers reported. Chinese rivals rising Huawei -- considered the world leader in superfast fifth-generation, or 5G, equipment and the world's number two smartphone producer -- has been blacklisted by US President Donald Trump amid suspicions it provides a backdoor for Chinese intelligence services. The company denies those charges. "The effect of the ban did not translate into falling shipments during this quarter, which will not be the case in the future," Counterpoint associate research director Tarun Pathak said in the firm's market report. "In the coming quarters, Huawei is likely to be aggressive in its home market and register some growth there, but it will not be enough to offset for the decline in its overseas shipments." The combined global smartphone market share of Chinese firms Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and Realme reached a new high of 42 per cent in the second quarter, according to Counterpoint. "These brands have been aggressively expanding outside China and achieving growth offsetting the saturation in their home market," said Counterpoint research analyst Varun Mishra. "Their strategies and product portfolios are more aligned to the local needs and preferences, which is one of their key strengths." Apple has been striving to wean itself off its reliance on iPhone sales with a focus on services, digital content and related gadgets. In the just-ended quarter, Apple for the first time took in less than half its revenue from the iPhone, the longtime cash and profit driver for the company. Apple managed to grow its overall revenues, albeit by a modest one per cent, to $53.8 billion, even as iPhone revenues plunged nearly 12 per cent in the April-June period. The company delivered strong growth from digital content and services including Apply Pay and Apple Music, along with wearables and accessories like the Apple Watch and Air Pods. Apple has stopped reporting iPhone unit sales, but chief executive Tim Cook said during an earnings call that there was a "strong customer response" to iPhone promotions and financing programs. Apple saw its sales improve in the crucial China market, which included a double-digit increase in services revenue driven by strong growth in the App Store there, according to the company. The sale of iPhones in that country was boosted by factors including pricing moves by Apple, and trade-in and financing programs, Cook said.

Apple loses more ground in smartphone market; falls to fourth place in global sales

Huawei Technologies extended its lead in a declining China smartphone market in the second quarter, with its market share rising to 38% as all other top vendors lost ground, according to data from market research firm Canalys.

Huawei, which was put on a trade blacklist by the United States since mid-May, shipped 37.3 million smartphones in China in the second quarter, up 31% year-on-year, according to Canalys. It's market share rose more than 10 percentage points from the year-ago quarter's 27.6%.

The second-quarter China shipments represented 64% of Huawei's total smartphone shipments in the quarter, Canalys said.

Smartphone shipments in the world's largest smartphone market declined by 6% in the three months ended June to 97.6 million units, according to Canalys. It was the 9th consecutive quarterly fall in China smartphone shipments, the data showed.

Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi Corp and Apple Inc, the top 4 vendors behind Huawei, saw declines in shipments and market share in the quarter. Canalys analyst Mo Jia said Huawei's addition to the US Entity List in May "caused uncertainty overseas" but it has been shifting its focus back towards its home market, where it invested in aggressive offline expansion to lure consumers from domestic rivals with a patriotic sales pitch.

Huawei's blacklisting by Washington has threatened to cut its access to essential US components and software such as the Google Android apps.

The Chinese company is set to report half-year results later on Tuesday.

Huawei Technologies extended its lead in a declining China smartphone market in the second quarter, with its market share rising to 38% as all other top vendors lost ground, according to data from market research firm Canalys.

Huawei Technologies extended its lead in a declining China smartphone market in the second quarter, with its market share rising to 38% as all other top vendors lost ground, according to data from market research firm Canalys. Huawei, which was put on a trade blacklist by the United States since mid-May, shipped 37.3 million smartphones in China in the second quarter, up 31% year-on-year, according to Canalys. It's market share rose more than 10 percentage points from the year-ago quarter's 27.6%. The second-quarter China shipments represented 64% of Huawei's total smartphone shipments in the quarter, Canalys said. Smartphone shipments in the world's largest smartphone market declined by 6% in the three months ended June to 97.6 million units, according to Canalys. It was the 9th consecutive quarterly fall in China smartphone shipments, the data showed. Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi Corp and Apple Inc, the top 4 vendors behind Huawei, saw declines in shipments and market share in the quarter. Canalys analyst Mo Jia said Huawei's addition to the US Entity List in May "caused uncertainty overseas" but it has been shifting its focus back towards its home market, where it invested in aggressive offline expansion to lure consumers from domestic rivals with a patriotic sales pitch. Huawei's blacklisting by Washington has threatened to cut its access to essential US components and software such as the Google Android apps. The Chinese company is set to report half-year results later on Tuesday.

Huawei's China smartphone market share jumps as rivals lose ground: Report

Oppo F11 Pro Review: Is it worth the money?

Apple chief executive Tim Cook on Saturday urged China to keep opening up its economy as local rivals bit into the profits of the US tech giant caught in the crosshairs of a trade spat between Beijing and Washington.

"We have seen China continue to change and evolve... We encourage China to continue to open up," he said during a speech at the annual China Development Forum in Beijing on Saturday.

"We see that as essential not only for China to reach its full potential, but also for the global economy to thrive."

Apple in January revealed that it took a hit in the "Greater China" region, where revenue plunged almost 27 per cent in the most recent quarter.&nbsp;

The dip had been expected following the company's revenue warning in December, where Apple admitted that iPhone sales and overall earnings would be below most forecasts, citing economic weakness in China and trade frictions between Washington and Beijing.

Lower priced local rivals such as Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo have also been nibbling at the California tech giant's market share in China.&nbsp;

Cook has been a critic of the US-China trade war that has spooked global markets. Last year, he used the China Development Forum as a venue to urge leaders of China and the US to let "calm heads prevail" and to avoid an escalation of tariffs.

Most of Apple's flagship products are assembled in China, leaving the California tech giant acutely vulnerable to Trump's tariffs.

During his speech on Saturday, Cook called for partnerships based on "openness and trust" where world players can work together to solve some of the biggest problems facing the planet including poverty, inequality and climate change.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook on Saturday urged China to keep opening up its economy as local rivals bit into the profits of the US tech giant caught in the crosshairs of a trade spat between Beijing and Washington.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook on Saturday urged China to keep opening up its economy as local rivals bit into the profits of the US tech giant caught in the crosshairs of a trade spat between Beijing and Washington. "We have seen China continue to change and evolve... We encourage China to continue to open up," he said during a speech at the annual China Development Forum in Beijing on Saturday. "We see that as essential not only for China to reach its full potential, but also for the global economy to thrive." Apple in January revealed that it took a hit in the "Greater China" region, where revenue plunged almost 27 per cent in the most recent quarter. The dip had been expected following the company's revenue warning in December, where Apple admitted that iPhone sales and overall earnings would be below most forecasts, citing economic weakness in China and trade frictions between Washington and Beijing. Lower priced local rivals such as Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo have also been nibbling at the California tech giant's market share in China. Cook has been a critic of the US-China trade war that has spooked global markets. Last year, he used the China Development Forum as a venue to urge leaders of China and the US to let "calm heads prevail" and to avoid an escalation of tariffs. Most of Apple's flagship products are assembled in China, leaving the California tech giant acutely vulnerable to Trump's tariffs. During his speech on Saturday, Cook called for partnerships based on "openness and trust" where world players can work together to solve some of the biggest problems facing the planet including poverty, inequality and climate change.

Apple's Tim Cook urges China to continue to open up its economy

Oppo recently launched two smartphones in China, Oppo A75 and Oppo A75s.

The smartphones come with 6-inch edge-to-edge display, 4GB RAM and weigh around 152g.

The Oppo A75 has been priced at NTD 10,990, roughly around Rs. 23,506 while the A75s will be available for NTD 11,990, for approximately Rs. 24,850.

The devices will be available on company&#39;s online store.

The handsets will be available in black and gold hues and will also boast of a full HD+ resolution (2,160&times;1,080 pixels) and an 18:9 display.&nbsp;

The Oppo A75 comes with 32GB internal storage while Oppo A75s packs 64GB of storage -- the only differing factor between the two devices. &nbsp;

The smartphones also come with a 20MP front camera and a 16MP back sensor.

The front sensor comes with the standard artificial intelligence-based facial recognition feature typically found in all Oppo flagship devices.

The devices run on on Color OS 3.2 built processor along with Android 7.1 Nougat.

Oppo A75 and A75s come with 3200mAh battery.&nbsp;

Other features include WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS and USB OTG support.

The company has not provided any information on its launch in other countries.&nbsp;

The OPPO A75 has been priced at NTD 10,990, roughly around Rs. 23,506

Oppo recently launched two smartphones in China, Oppo A75 and Oppo A75s. The smartphones come with 6-inch edge-to-edge display, 4GB RAM and weigh around 152g. The Oppo A75 has been priced at NTD 10,990, roughly around Rs. 23,506 while the A75s will be available for NTD 11,990, for approximately Rs. 24,850. The devices will be available on company's online store. The handsets will be available in black and gold hues and will also boast of a full HD+ resolution (2,160×1,080 pixels) and an 18:9 display. The Oppo A75 comes with 32GB internal storage while Oppo A75s packs 64GB of storage -- the only differing factor between the two devices. The smartphones also come with a 20MP front camera and a 16MP back sensor. The front sensor comes with the standard artificial intelligence-based facial recognition feature typically found in all Oppo flagship devices. The devices run on on Color OS 3.2 built processor along with Android 7.1 Nougat. Oppo A75 and A75s come with 3200mAh battery. Other features include WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS and USB OTG support. The company has not provided any information on its launch in other countries.

Oppo launches A75, A75s with 6-inch display, 20MP selfie camera in China

With its army of salespeople and a vast network of outlets, a relatively new smartphone maker has exploded in popularity to overtake global giants Apple and Samsung in China&#39;s market. It has its eye on the West, now.

 
Oppo began life selling DVD players in the southern manufacturing hub of Dongguan a little more than a decade ago and only broke into the handset market in 2011. It did not only rely only upon online customers and held an aggressive marketing strategy, concentrated on bricks and mortar store even in small and medium-sized cities soaring up the sales.&nbsp;

 
Last year it had a market share of 16.8 per cent making it the China market leader and even with a slip in the first three months of 2017. &nbsp;It was put just behind local rival Huawei. According to market analyst IDC, it remains well ahead of Apple and Samsung.

 
Globally it ranks fourth behind Samsung, Apple, and Huawei.

 
While its rivals focus on the premium end of the smartphone market in major cities and online, Oppo makes relatively cheap devices. Its latest model is less than half the price of an iPhone 7. Oppo also sells them in actual shops. It has 200,000 outlets across China. Less than 10 per cent of its purchases is made online, while retailers are offered generous commissions in exchange for promoting the brand. 
&quot;In small cities, consumers unfamiliar with smartphones need to see and touch the devices and to have salespeople there to help them,&quot; said Yi Jun, Oppo&#39;s international sales director.

 
At the company&#39;s factory in Guangdong province, Oppo handsets are submitted to a series of durability tests including one-metre drops and temperature changes ranging from -40 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius. 
&quot;Technology is essential for meeting consumers&#39; expectations,&quot; Yi said, pointing to Oppo&#39;s fast-charging ability, high-definition camera lens, and sleek design.

 
Now Oppo&#39;s rivals are starting to follow suit. Chinese brand Xiaomi, which lost significant market share in 2016, has been relying on the web for sales of its top of the range smartphones. But in February it announced plans to go back to old-fashioned selling techniques with plans to open 1,000 stores by 2020 in the hope of reversing its fortunes.

 
As competitors play catch up, analysts warn Oppo to must maintain its momentum to stay on or near the top. It needs to continue expanding its sales network and offering competitive products, said Mo Jia, an analyst at technology research firm Canalys.

 
Oppo has also been boosting its sales abroad, including emerging markets in Southeast Asia where its share more than doubled to 13.2 per cent last year. This is by far the biggest increase among its rivals, IDC data shows. 
In India, it was the fourth-biggest player in the fourth quarter, with 8.6 per cent market share, behind Samsung, Xiaomi and Lenovo.

 
&quot;Its success in these countries comes from frantic marketing,&quot; said IDC analyst Tay Xiaohan, noting the use of local celebrities as &quot;brand ambassadors&quot; as it targets millennials. 
It is also starting to back high-profile sports teams to increase brand awareness. Earlier this year it forked out more than USD 160 million to become an official sponsor of the Indian cricket side.

 
And Oppo is adapting its products to satisfy the &quot;selfie&quot; trend. &quot;We noticed the craze in Southeast Asia for group selfies and tailored our devices accordingly,&quot; Yi said, referring to special camera features that enable users to take better self-portraits. He added &nbsp;&quot;We are very interested in entering the US and European markets, we are working on it... But without a precise timeline&quot;.

 
While Huawei has managed to make a name for itself in US and European smartphone markets, it was already very present in those places as a telecom equipment manufacturer, said Annette Zimmermann, an analyst with technology research company Gartner. 
And Oppo&#39;s direct sales strategy might not be as successful in markets dominated by mobile network operators that provide handsets with their contracts.

&nbsp;

Oppo is enhancing its products to satisfy the "selfie" trend

With its army of salespeople and a vast network of outlets, a relatively new smartphone maker has exploded in popularity to overtake global giants Apple and Samsung in China's market. It has its eye on the West, now. Oppo began life selling DVD players in the southern manufacturing hub of Dongguan a little more than a decade ago and only broke into the handset market in 2011. It did not only rely only upon online customers and held an aggressive marketing strategy, concentrated on bricks and mortar store even in small and medium-sized cities soaring up the sales. Last year it had a market share of 16.8 per cent making it the China market leader and even with a slip in the first three months of 2017. It was put just behind local rival Huawei. According to market analyst IDC, it remains well ahead of Apple and Samsung. Globally it ranks fourth behind Samsung, Apple, and Huawei. While its rivals focus on the premium end of the smartphone market in major cities and online, Oppo makes relatively cheap devices. Its latest model is less than half the price of an iPhone 7. Oppo also sells them in actual shops. It has 200,000 outlets across China. Less than 10 per cent of its purchases is made online, while retailers are offered generous commissions in exchange for promoting the brand. "In small cities, consumers unfamiliar with smartphones need to see and touch the devices and to have salespeople there to help them," said Yi Jun, Oppo's international sales director. At the company's factory in Guangdong province, Oppo handsets are submitted to a series of durability tests including one-metre drops and temperature changes ranging from -40 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius. "Technology is essential for meeting consumers' expectations," Yi said, pointing to Oppo's fast-charging ability, high-definition camera lens, and sleek design. Now Oppo's rivals are starting to follow suit. Chinese brand Xiaomi, which lost significant market share in 2016, has been relying on the web for sales of its top of the range smartphones. But in February it announced plans to go back to old-fashioned selling techniques with plans to open 1,000 stores by 2020 in the hope of reversing its fortunes. As competitors play catch up, analysts warn Oppo to must maintain its momentum to stay on or near the top. It needs to continue expanding its sales network and offering competitive products, said Mo Jia, an analyst at technology research firm Canalys. Oppo has also been boosting its sales abroad, including emerging markets in Southeast Asia where its share more than doubled to 13.2 per cent last year. This is by far the biggest increase among its rivals, IDC data shows. In India, it was the fourth-biggest player in the fourth quarter, with 8.6 per cent market share, behind Samsung, Xiaomi and Lenovo. "Its success in these countries comes from frantic marketing," said IDC analyst Tay Xiaohan, noting the use of local celebrities as "brand ambassadors" as it targets millennials. It is also starting to back high-profile sports teams to increase brand awareness. Earlier this year it forked out more than USD 160 million to become an official sponsor of the Indian cricket side. And Oppo is adapting its products to satisfy the "selfie" trend. "We noticed the craze in Southeast Asia for group selfies and tailored our devices accordingly," Yi said, referring to special camera features that enable users to take better self-portraits. He added "We are very interested in entering the US and European markets, we are working on it... But without a precise timeline". While Huawei has managed to make a name for itself in US and European smartphone markets, it was already very present in those places as a telecom equipment manufacturer, said Annette Zimmermann, an analyst with technology research company Gartner. And Oppo's direct sales strategy might not be as successful in markets dominated by mobile network operators that provide handsets with their contracts.

Oppo ready to bang the western market

oppo

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