China's Xiaomi Corp said on Wednesday a US court has removed the company's designation as a Communist Chinese Military Company (CCMC) and lifted all restrictions on US persons buying or holding its stock.&nbsp;

"The US District Court for the District of Columbia issued a final order vacating the US Department of Defense's designation of the company as a CCMC," the smartphone maker said in a filing to the Hong Kong bourse. It said the order was made on Tuesday.&nbsp;

"The company reiterates that it is an open, transparent, publicly traded, independently operated and managed corporation," Xiaomi chairman Lei Jun said in the statement.&nbsp;

A court filing showed earlier in May that the US&nbsp;Defence&nbsp;Department would remove Xiaomi from a government blacklist, marking a reversal by the Biden administration of one of Donald Trump's last jabs at Beijing before exiting office.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;&nbsp;

China's Xiaomi Corp said on Wednesday a US court has removed the company's designation as a Communist Chinese Military Company (CCMC) and lifted all restrictions on US persons buying or holding its stock.

China's Xiaomi Corp said on Wednesday a US court has removed the company's designation as a Communist Chinese Military Company (CCMC) and lifted all restrictions on US persons buying or holding its stock. "The US District Court for the District of Columbia issued a final order vacating the US Department of Defense's designation of the company as a CCMC," the smartphone maker said in a filing to the Hong Kong bourse. It said the order was made on Tuesday. "The company reiterates that it is an open, transparent, publicly traded, independently operated and managed corporation," Xiaomi chairman Lei Jun said in the statement. A court filing showed earlier in May that the US Defence Department would remove Xiaomi from a government blacklist, marking a reversal by the Biden administration of one of Donald Trump's last jabs at Beijing before exiting office. (With inputs from agencies)

China's Xiaomi says US has formally lifted securities ban 

Samsung&nbsp;Electronics Co Ltd reclaimed its crown as the world's biggest&nbsp;smartphone&nbsp;maker from&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;in the first quarter, cornering a fifth of overall global&nbsp;shipments.

China's&nbsp;Xiaomi&nbsp;Corp rounded out the top three positions with its best quarterly performance ever as&nbsp;shipments&nbsp;surged 62 per cent&nbsp;to 49 million phones and its market share rose to 14 per cent, market research firm Canalys said.

Overall, global&nbsp;shipments&nbsp;surged 27&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;to 347 million units in the first quarter as the Chinese economy opened up after the pandemic and a swift vaccine rollout in the United States raised hopes of an economic recovery.

South Korea's&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;shipped 76.5 million&nbsp;smartphones in the quarter to grab a 22&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;share of the market, Canalys said. The company on Thursday reported a 66&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;surge in quarterly profit in its mobiles business, thanks to robust sales of its flagship Galaxy S21&nbsp;smartphone&nbsp;series.

Canalys said&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;shipped 52.4 million iPhones in the January-March period, falling to the second spot with a 15 per cent&nbsp;share of the market.

Apple&nbsp;still grabbed record market share in the United States, China, India and Japan, Counterpoint analyst Varun Mishra said, adding that the iPhone Pro Max was a top seller in the United States.

Smartphone&nbsp;sales have surged over the past year as people stayed and worked from home. But the shopping frenzy has fuelled a global shortage in semiconductor chips that has roiled industries including autos and large appliances.

"Supply of critical components, such as chipsets, has quickly become a major concern, and will hinder&nbsp;smartphone&nbsp;shipments&nbsp;in the coming quarters," Canalys analyst Ben Stanton said.

Apple&nbsp;said on Wednesday that the chip shortage could cost the company $3 billion to $4 billion in revenue in the April-June quarter, affecting primarily iPads and Macbooks.

March-quarter&nbsp;smartphone&nbsp;shipments&nbsp;for China's Oppo and Vivo brands also surged, Canalys said. But Huawei, the former No. 1 that remains shackled by U.S. sanctions, took only seventh place after selling its Honor brand last year.

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd reclaimed its crown as the world's biggest smartphone maker from Apple in the first quarter, cornering a fifth of overall global shipments.

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd reclaimed its crown as the world's biggest smartphone maker from Apple in the first quarter, cornering a fifth of overall global shipments. China's Xiaomi Corp rounded out the top three positions with its best quarterly performance ever as shipments surged 62 per cent to 49 million phones and its market share rose to 14 per cent, market research firm Canalys said. Overall, global shipments surged 27 per cent to 347 million units in the first quarter as the Chinese economy opened up after the pandemic and a swift vaccine rollout in the United States raised hopes of an economic recovery. South Korea's Samsung shipped 76.5 million smartphones in the quarter to grab a 22 per cent share of the market, Canalys said. The company on Thursday reported a 66 per cent surge in quarterly profit in its mobiles business, thanks to robust sales of its flagship Galaxy S21 smartphone series. Canalys said Apple shipped 52.4 million iPhones in the January-March period, falling to the second spot with a 15 per cent share of the market. Apple still grabbed record market share in the United States, China, India and Japan, Counterpoint analyst Varun Mishra said, adding that the iPhone Pro Max was a top seller in the United States. Smartphone sales have surged over the past year as people stayed and worked from home. But the shopping frenzy has fuelled a global shortage in semiconductor chips that has roiled industries including autos and large appliances. "Supply of critical components, such as chipsets, has quickly become a major concern, and will hinder smartphone shipments in the coming quarters," Canalys analyst Ben Stanton said. Apple said on Wednesday that the chip shortage could cost the company $3 billion to $4 billion in revenue in the April-June quarter, affecting primarily iPads and Macbooks. March-quarter smartphone shipments for China's Oppo and Vivo brands also surged, Canalys said. But Huawei, the former No. 1 that remains shackled by U.S. sanctions, took only seventh place after selling its Honor brand last year.

Samsung overtakes Apple in smartphone shipments as Xiaomi closes in

Xiaomi has filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the former US administration's, led by Donald Trump, blacklisting of the Chinese smartphone maker.

Xiaomi on Sunday said it filed the appeal with a Washington federal court Friday after Trump's administration barred investment in the firm, saying the Beijing-headquartered company was a part of the Chinese military.

In a statement, Xiaomi said it "believes that the decision ... was factually incorrect and has deprived the company of legal due process."

"With a view to protecting the interests of the global users, partners, employees and shareholders of (Xiaomi), the company has pleaded to the courts to declare the decision illegal and that it be reversed," the statement added.

Xiaomi was one of nine firms the Pentagon classified as "Communist Chinese military companies."&nbsp;

Trump's officials made a series of announcements targetting Xiaomi and other Chinese firms including state oil giant CNOOC and short-video app TikTok just six days before&nbsp;he left office. The measure was seen as an attempt to cement Trump's trade war legacy with China after four years of turbulent relations with Beijing.

Xiaomi has filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the former US administration's, led by Donald Trump, blacklisting of the Chinese smartphone maker. Xiaomi on Sunday said it filed the appeal with a Washington federal court Friday after Trump's administration barred investment in the firm, saying the Beijing-headquartered company was a part of the Chinese military.

Xiaomi has filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the former US administration's, led by Donald Trump, blacklisting of the Chinese smartphone maker. Xiaomi on Sunday said it filed the appeal with a Washington federal court Friday after Trump's administration barred investment in the firm, saying the Beijing-headquartered company was a part of the Chinese military. In a statement, Xiaomi said it "believes that the decision ... was factually incorrect and has deprived the company of legal due process." "With a view to protecting the interests of the global users, partners, employees and shareholders of (Xiaomi), the company has pleaded to the courts to declare the decision illegal and that it be reversed," the statement added. Xiaomi was one of nine firms the Pentagon classified as "Communist Chinese military companies." Trump's officials made a series of announcements targetting Xiaomi and other Chinese firms including state oil giant CNOOC and short-video app TikTok just six days before he left office. The measure was seen as an attempt to cement Trump's trade war legacy with China after four years of turbulent relations with Beijing.

Smartphone giant Xiaomi files lawsuit to reverse US blacklisting

The outgoing Trump administration on Friday blacklisted Xiaomi Corp which is <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-huawei-backtracks-after-filing-for-patent-of-ai-software-that-could-recognise-uighurs-356738">China's</a> No. 2 smartphone maker including nine other countries barring Americans from investing in them.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-urges-us-to-stop-wrongdoings-over-xinjiang-356797/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

US officials said the Chinese firms posed a threat to national security. Xiaomi's shares nosedived 11 per cent after the US government's announcement.&nbsp;

The US Department of Defense in a statement said it was "determined to highlight and counter the People's Republic of China's military-civil fusion development strategy".

The latest move by Trump administration focused on Chinese companies with military ties and strategic value which includes planemaker Comac. The blacklisting forces American investors to divest their holdings of the firms by November 11, 2021.

The US Commerce Department has also banned Americans from supplying companies including China's oil cooperation CNOOC and deep-water explorer Skyrison which develops military equipment.

"China's reckless and belligerent actions in the South China Sea and its aggressive push to acquire sensitive intellectual property and technology for its militarization efforts are a threat to US national security and the security of the international community," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement.

"CNOOC acts a bully for the People's Liberation Army to intimidate China's neighbours, and the Chinese military continues to benefit from government civil-military fusion policies for malign purposes," Ross added.

"CNOOC has repeatedly harassed and threatened offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction in the South China Sea, with the goal of driving up the political risk for interested foreign partners, including Vietnam," the Commerce Department said.

The outgoing Trump administration on Friday blacklisted Xiaomi Corp which is China's No. 2 smartphone maker including nine other countries barring Americans from investing in them.

The outgoing Trump administration on Friday blacklisted Xiaomi Corp which is China's No. 2 smartphone maker including nine other countries barring Americans from investing in them. Watch: US officials said the Chinese firms posed a threat to national security. Xiaomi's shares nosedived 11 per cent after the US government's announcement. The US Department of Defense in a statement said it was "determined to highlight and counter the People's Republic of China's military-civil fusion development strategy". The latest move by Trump administration focused on Chinese companies with military ties and strategic value which includes planemaker Comac. The blacklisting forces American investors to divest their holdings of the firms by November 11, 2021. The US Commerce Department has also banned Americans from supplying companies including China's oil cooperation CNOOC and deep-water explorer Skyrison which develops military equipment. "China's reckless and belligerent actions in the South China Sea and its aggressive push to acquire sensitive intellectual property and technology for its militarization efforts are a threat to US national security and the security of the international community," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement. "CNOOC acts a bully for the People's Liberation Army to intimidate China's neighbours, and the Chinese military continues to benefit from government civil-military fusion policies for malign purposes," Ross added. "CNOOC has repeatedly harassed and threatened offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction in the South China Sea, with the goal of driving up the political risk for interested foreign partners, including Vietnam," the Commerce Department said.

Trump administration backlists Chinese firms including Xiaomi

Alibaba, Tencent and other Chinese tech giants took a heavy hit as their shares tumbled for a second day on Wednesday. The companies lost billions as Beijing's market regulator released draft antitrust rules that gave signals of crackdown on high-flying internet giants. The rules, released on Tuesday (October 10, 2020) outlined steps to prevent 'monopolistic behaviour' in internet companies. This is a marked departure from China's previous approach on antitrust issues. The announcement came on the eve of Singles' Day, the world's biggest shopping festival propelled by Alibaba.

Alibaba shares dropped 9.8 per cent in Hong Kong -- just week after regulator halted a huge IPO for Ant Group, the financial arm of Alibaba. Tencent shares slipped more than seven per cent.

Meanwhile, online shopping platform JD.com plunged more than nine percent, smartphone maker Xiaomi dived more than eight percent and food delivery firm Meituan was 9.7 percent lower.

The losses followed massive drops for the firms on Tuesday.

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Dave Wang, portfolio manager at Nuvest Capital told AFP the authorities' move marks an "inflection point" for the sector.

"The dominance of the big players may have reached a point that is making authorities feel uncomfortable," he said.

"They are looking to reduce this dominance or at least keep it in check."

The guidelines, put out by the State Administration for Market Regulation, take specific aim at internet platforms and issues such as exclusivity clauses that hinder competition.

China's antitrust watchdog is also targeting acts constituting an "abuse of dominant market positions" that could squeeze out smaller rivals -- including unfair pricing, restricting transactions without justifiable reason, or pushing different prices and conditions on customers based on their buying habits.

The move to force business partners to "pick one of two", therefore selling exclusively on one platform, is explicitly cited as a monopolistic practice as well.

China's tech firms are known to have captive ecosystems. Alibaba's Taobao platform, for example, supports payments via its own Alipay rather than Tencent's WeChat Pay.

Beijing has moved to clip the wings of its fast-growing online platforms, most recently halting a planned record-smashing $34 billion IPO of Ant Group -- Alibaba's financial arm.

But Supun Walpola, equity analyst at LightStream Research, noted that even if the new rules affect companies' current operations, it does not "drastically" hit their core business models.

"For instance, given its&nbsp;scale and penetration, I see no reason why Alibaba cannot be successful&nbsp;even without practices&nbsp;like data collaboration, price descrimination or exclusivity clauses," he said.

(With AFP inputs)

Alibaba, Tencent and other Chinese tech giants took a heavy hit as their shares tumbled for a second day on Wednesday. The companies lost billions as Beijing's market regulator released draft antitrust rules that gave signals of crackdown on high-flying internet giants.

Alibaba, Tencent and other Chinese tech giants took a heavy hit as their shares tumbled for a second day on Wednesday. The companies lost billions as Beijing's market regulator released draft antitrust rules that gave signals of crackdown on high-flying internet giants. The rules, released on Tuesday (October 10, 2020) outlined steps to prevent 'monopolistic behaviour' in internet companies. This is a marked departure from China's previous approach on antitrust issues. The announcement came on the eve of Singles' Day, the world's biggest shopping festival propelled by Alibaba. Alibaba shares dropped 9.8 per cent in Hong Kong -- just week after regulator halted a huge IPO for Ant Group, the financial arm of Alibaba. Tencent shares slipped more than seven per cent. Meanwhile, online shopping platform JD.com plunged more than nine percent, smartphone maker Xiaomi dived more than eight percent and food delivery firm Meituan was 9.7 percent lower. The losses followed massive drops for the firms on Tuesday. ALSO READ | Diwali 2020 Muhurat Trading: Here is what you need to know Dave Wang, portfolio manager at Nuvest Capital told AFP the authorities' move marks an "inflection point" for the sector. "The dominance of the big players may have reached a point that is making authorities feel uncomfortable," he said. "They are looking to reduce this dominance or at least keep it in check." The guidelines, put out by the State Administration for Market Regulation, take specific aim at internet platforms and issues such as exclusivity clauses that hinder competition. China's antitrust watchdog is also targeting acts constituting an "abuse of dominant market positions" that could squeeze out smaller rivals -- including unfair pricing, restricting transactions without justifiable reason, or pushing different prices and conditions on customers based on their buying habits. The move to force business partners to "pick one of two", therefore selling exclusively on one platform, is explicitly cited as a monopolistic practice as well. China's tech firms are known to have captive ecosystems. Alibaba's Taobao platform, for example, supports payments via its own Alipay rather than Tencent's WeChat Pay. Beijing has moved to clip the wings of its fast-growing online platforms, most recently halting a planned record-smashing $34 billion IPO of Ant Group -- Alibaba's financial arm. But Supun Walpola, equity analyst at LightStream Research, noted that even if the new rules affect companies' current operations, it does not "drastically" hit their core business models. "For instance, given its scale and penetration, I see no reason why Alibaba cannot be successful even without practices like data collaboration, price descrimination or exclusivity clauses," he said. (With AFP inputs)

Chinese tech giants Alibaba, Tencent stocks heavily hit after draft antitrust rules

Foxconn&nbsp;plans to invest up to $1 billion to expand a factory in southern India where the Taiwanese contract manufacturer assembles Apple iPhones, two sources said.

The move, the scale of which has not previously been reported, is part of a quiet and gradual production shift by Apple away from China as it navigates disruptions from a trade war between Beijing and Washington and the coronavirus crisis.

"There's a strong request from Apple to its clients to move part of the iPhone production out of China," one of the sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-apple-eyes-shift-to-india-from-china-smartphone-manufacturing-to-get-major-boost-298304">As Apple eyes shift to India from China, smartphone manufacturing to get major boost</a>

Foxconn&nbsp;said it does not comment on matters related to customers, while Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

Foxconn's planned investment in the Sriperumbur plant, where Apple's iPhone XR is made some 50 km west of Chennai, will take place over the course of three years, the second source said.

Some of Apple's other iPhones models, made by&nbsp;Foxconn&nbsp;in China, will be made at the plant, said both sources, who declined to be identified as the talks are private and details have yet to be finalised.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amid-growing-tensions-with-china-taiwans-foxconn-eyes-investment-in-india-308087">Amid growing tensions with China, Taiwan's Foxconn eyes investment in India</a>

Taipei-headquartered&nbsp;Foxconn&nbsp;will add some 6,000 jobs at the Sriperumbur plant in Tamil Nadu state under the plan, one of the sources said. It also operates a separate plant in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, where it makes smartphones for China's Xiaomi Corp, among others.

Foxconn&nbsp;Chairman Liu Young-way last month said it would ramp up its investment in India, without giving details.

STATUS SYMBOL

Apple accounts for about 1% of smartphone sales in India, the world's second-biggest smartphone market, where its pricey iPhones are often seen as a status symbol.

Building more phones in India will also help Apple save on import taxes that further push up its prices.

Apple assembles a few models through Taiwan's Wistron Corp in the southern tech hub of Bengaluru. Wistron is also set to open a new plant, where it plans to make more Apple devices, Reuters previously reported.

"With India's labour cheaper compared with China, and the gradual expansion of its supplier base here, Apple will be able to use the country as an export hub," Neil Shah of Hong Kong-based tech researcher Counterpoint said.

India is also working to boost electronics manufacturing by firms such as&nbsp;Foxconn&nbsp;and last month launched a $6.65 billion plan, offering five global smartphone makers incentives to establish or expand domestic production.

Having Apple widen its local presence is likely to be a boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship "Make In India" drive, aimed at creating new jobs.

South Korea's Samsung has already said it will make smartphones for export from its plant outside New Delhi.

Foxconn plans to invest up to $1 billion to expand a factory in southern India where the Taiwanese contract manufacturer assembles Apple iPhones, two sources said.

Foxconn plans to invest up to $1 billion to expand a factory in southern India where the Taiwanese contract manufacturer assembles Apple iPhones, two sources said. The move, the scale of which has not previously been reported, is part of a quiet and gradual production shift by Apple away from China as it navigates disruptions from a trade war between Beijing and Washington and the coronavirus crisis. "There's a strong request from Apple to its clients to move part of the iPhone production out of China," one of the sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Also read: As Apple eyes shift to India from China, smartphone manufacturing to get major boost Foxconn said it does not comment on matters related to customers, while Apple did not respond to a request for comment. Foxconn's planned investment in the Sriperumbur plant, where Apple's iPhone XR is made some 50 km west of Chennai, will take place over the course of three years, the second source said. Some of Apple's other iPhones models, made by Foxconn in China, will be made at the plant, said both sources, who declined to be identified as the talks are private and details have yet to be finalised. Also read: Amid growing tensions with China, Taiwan's Foxconn eyes investment in India Taipei-headquartered Foxconn will add some 6,000 jobs at the Sriperumbur plant in Tamil Nadu state under the plan, one of the sources said. It also operates a separate plant in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, where it makes smartphones for China's Xiaomi Corp, among others. Foxconn Chairman Liu Young-way last month said it would ramp up its investment in India, without giving details. STATUS SYMBOL Apple accounts for about 1% of smartphone sales in India, the world's second-biggest smartphone market, where its pricey iPhones are often seen as a status symbol. Building more phones in India will also help Apple save on import taxes that further push up its prices. Apple assembles a few models through Taiwan's Wistron Corp in the southern tech hub of Bengaluru. Wistron is also set to open a new plant, where it plans to make more Apple devices, Reuters previously reported. "With India's labour cheaper compared with China, and the gradual expansion of its supplier base here, Apple will be able to use the country as an export hub," Neil Shah of Hong Kong-based tech researcher Counterpoint said. India is also working to boost electronics manufacturing by firms such as Foxconn and last month launched a $6.65 billion plan, offering five global smartphone makers incentives to establish or expand domestic production. Having Apple widen its local presence is likely to be a boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship "Make In India" drive, aimed at creating new jobs. South Korea's Samsung has already said it will make smartphones for export from its plant outside New Delhi.

Apple supplier Foxconn to invest $1 billion in India: Sources

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.

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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

Chinese <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/founder-of-chinas-smartphone-maker-smartisan-barred-from-planes-trains-259693">smartphone </a>maker <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-xiaomi-secures-seven-cornerstone-investors-for-61-billion-hong-kong-ipo-146044">Xiaomi Corp</a> posted its slowest-ever quarterly revenue growth, as the country's smartphone market copes with a protracted lull in sales and bigger rival Huawei grabs more market share.

Revenue in the first quarter ended September&nbsp;30 rose 5.5 per cent&nbsp;to 53.66 billion yuan from the same period last year, largely in line with analysts' expectations of 53.74 billion yuan.

Net income rose to 3.47 billion yuan, up from 2.50 billion yuan a year ago.

Demand for smartphones has eased in China as consumers hold on to devices longer. As well, Chinese shoppers have rallied behind and boosted sales at Huawei, the world's second-largest smartphone maker, which was added to a trade blacklist by the United States.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/mi-mix-xiaomis-first-phone-with-edge-to-edge-display-72">Xiaomi</a> shipments to Chinese consumers fell by a third in the September quarter, according to market research firm Canalys, while Huawei's rose 66 per cent. Total smartphone shipments in China shrank 3 per cent.

Once the darling of China's smartphone industry, Xiaomi still makes most of its money selling smartphones but has been touting its aspirations to boost its internet services division, which mainly consists of online ad sales.

Revenue from this business jumped 12.3 per cent to 5.31 billion yuan in the year. The unit contributed 10% of the company's total sales, roughly the same as when it listed in August 2018.

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp posted its slowest-ever quarterly revenue growth, as the country's smartphone market copes with a protracted lull in sales and bigger rival Huawei grabs more market share.

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp posted its slowest-ever quarterly revenue growth, as the country's smartphone market copes with a protracted lull in sales and bigger rival Huawei grabs more market share. Revenue in the first quarter ended September 30 rose 5.5 per cent to 53.66 billion yuan from the same period last year, largely in line with analysts' expectations of 53.74 billion yuan. Net income rose to 3.47 billion yuan, up from 2.50 billion yuan a year ago. Demand for smartphones has eased in China as consumers hold on to devices longer. As well, Chinese shoppers have rallied behind and boosted sales at Huawei, the world's second-largest smartphone maker, which was added to a trade blacklist by the United States. Xiaomi shipments to Chinese consumers fell by a third in the September quarter, according to market research firm Canalys, while Huawei's rose 66 per cent. Total smartphone shipments in China shrank 3 per cent. Once the darling of China's smartphone industry, Xiaomi still makes most of its money selling smartphones but has been touting its aspirations to boost its internet services division, which mainly consists of online ad sales. Revenue from this business jumped 12.3 per cent to 5.31 billion yuan in the year. The unit contributed 10% of the company's total sales, roughly the same as when it listed in August 2018.

Smartphone maker Xiaomi posts slowest-ever revenue growth in third-quarter

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

When it comes to budget phones, options are plenty; and now, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 8 is here to make the competition tougher. But just how good is the phone?

Starting with Note 8's design. The gradient finish with reflective backs might be trendy, but we personally don’t find it attractive. The Redmi Note 8 has the same design language, and this could be a put off for many,&nbsp;especially, the blue colour. But if you like the dual-tone glossy finish, this wouldn't be a deterrent.&nbsp;

The phone doesn’t feel too heavy, but we wish it was a tad thinner. Otherwise, the phone is comfortable to hold and operate. The rounded corners also add to the ergonomics.

The display is pretty good at this price point. It’s vibrant and comes with a small chin and bezels. The 6.3-inch full high-definition+ display is a feast for the eyes as it offers good viewing angles. It is also easily viewable in direct sunlight.

The phone has not one or two, but four rear cameras, a 48-megapixel with an ultra-high-resolution sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens to capture landscapes with a wider view, a 2-megapixel macro lens to capture minutest subjects with clarity; and a 2-megapixel depth sensor that allows the camera to create portraits with bokeh background.

<img alt="Redmi Note 8" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9faafc41-17e8-4bc2-a3da-94600b17f463" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%287%29_6.jpg" />

<img alt="Redmi Note 8" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3460a66a-1f20-4f1a-a9a2-20cde098b4c9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%285%29_12.jpg" />

<img alt="Redmi Note 8" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="388c4f0a-a90b-43ae-80b7-3b7d8c279744" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%286%29_5.jpg" />

In terms of photo quality, the results look bright and fairly detailed. Its, 13-megapixel front camera also does a decent job.

Now the question is, how well does it perform?

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 8 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 which helps it to not lag or slowdown.

It also comes with 6 GB of ram and up to 512GB of expandable storage.

Note 8's other features include corning gorilla glass protection on both the sides, a 4000mah high-capacity battery. The phone lasted for over a day on a single charge. It also has dual sim support.

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 8 comes in three colours, space black, neptune blue, and moonlight white. It is priced at 9,999 rupees.

Overall, the Redmi Note 8 is a strong contender and passes the 'Tech it out Test' with flying colours.

When it comes to budget phones, options are plenty; and now, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 8 is here to make the competition tougher. But just how good is the phone? Starting with Note 8's design.

When it comes to budget phones, options are plenty; and now, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 8 is here to make the competition tougher. But just how good is the phone? Starting with Note 8's design. The gradient finish with reflective backs might be trendy, but we personally don’t find it attractive. The Redmi Note 8 has the same design language, and this could be a put off for many, especially, the blue colour. But if you like the dual-tone glossy finish, this wouldn't be a deterrent. The phone doesn’t feel too heavy, but we wish it was a tad thinner. Otherwise, the phone is comfortable to hold and operate. The rounded corners also add to the ergonomics. The display is pretty good at this price point. It’s vibrant and comes with a small chin and bezels. The 6.3-inch full high-definition+ display is a feast for the eyes as it offers good viewing angles. It is also easily viewable in direct sunlight. The phone has not one or two, but four rear cameras, a 48-megapixel with an ultra-high-resolution sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens to capture landscapes with a wider view, a 2-megapixel macro lens to capture minutest subjects with clarity; and a 2-megapixel depth sensor that allows the camera to create portraits with bokeh background. In terms of photo quality, the results look bright and fairly detailed. Its, 13-megapixel front camera also does a decent job. Now the question is, how well does it perform? Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 8 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 which helps it to not lag or slowdown. It also comes with 6 GB of ram and up to 512GB of expandable storage. Note 8's other features include corning gorilla glass protection on both the sides, a 4000mah high-capacity battery. The phone lasted for over a day on a single charge. It also has dual sim support. Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 8 comes in three colours, space black, neptune blue, and moonlight white. It is priced at 9,999 rupees. Overall, the Redmi Note 8 is a strong contender and passes the 'Tech it out Test' with flying colours.

Phone review: How good is the new Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 8

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/want-to-make-high-end-computers-in-us-need-tariff-relief-apple-ceo-tim-cook-239585">Apple Inc iPhone</a> sales dropped to less than half of quarterly revenue for the first time in seven years, but CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday described the change as successfully diversifying away from a single product and forecast results above Wall Street targets.

That strategy proved especially useful in China, the world's largest smartphone market. Investors feared a drumbeat of negative shipment data from the Chinese government and analysts meant problems for the iPhone maker.

Apple's greater China sales, which had gone into a near free-fall earlier this year, dipped only slightly, assuaging concerns that trade tension was undermining Apple's standing in one of its most important markets. Shares rose 4.25 per cent after hours.

Moribund global mobile phone sales have led Apple to focus on accessories like the Apple Watch and growth in music, apps, gaming, video and a credit card coming in August. In mainland China, Cook said the overall number of Apple device users had grown in the fiscal third quarter, helping to increase the market for its services, whose sales were up by more than 10 per cent there.

"We grew in mainland China," Cook told Reuters. "Non-iPhone revenue grew 17 per cent. We grew in every category outside of iPhone."

But globally, iPhone sales fell 12 per cent to $25.99 billion, after dropping 17 per cent in the previous quarter, and matched Wall Street targets.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Wearables and other accessories revenue rose nearly 50 per cent, topping expectations.

Services revenue rose 12.6 per cent to $11.46 billion, slowing and slightly missing expectations but setting a new record.

Apple said it expects revenue for the current fiscal fourth quarter of between $61 billion and $64 billion, compared with analyst estimates of $61.02 billion.&nbsp;

At the high end of Apple's forecasted range, sales would beat the prior year's $62.90 billion in sales, even though analysts expected continued lacklustre iPhone sales until 5G models arrive in 2020.

For the fiscal third quarter ended in June, Apple reported a 1 per cent rise in revenue to $53.8 billion and a 7 per cent drop in earnings per share to $2.18, compared with expectations of $53.39 billion and $2.10 per share, according to Refinitiv data.

Hal Eddins, a chief economist for Apple shareholder Capital Investment Counsel, said he was pleasantly surprised to see iPhone sales declines slow down versus the prior quarter.

"You don’t hear people talk about their phones like they did several years ago," Eddins said. But, "the key is that when people want to splurge on a phone, they do it with an Apple product."

Apple did not give the number of active <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/apples-india-made-top-end-iphones-to-hit-stores-next-month-source-235135">Apple devices</a>, but in January it said it was 1.4 billion, with 900 million of those being iPhones. Investors used the number, called the installed base, as a proxy for how many subscribers it can gain for its services business.&nbsp;

Cook told investors on a conference call Tuesday that Apple has 420 million paid subscribers to its services and third-party apps. The company has set a goal of 500 million by 2020.

Trip Miller, the managing partner at Apple shareholder Gullane Capital Partners, said he wants to see services growth return to the 20 per cent range and thinks Apple needs to use its billions in cash to buy media properties to fuel its forthcoming television service.

"You have to have a bigger installed base and have services that people get value from," Miller said.

Trade tension still looms large

Apple reported results as US and Chinese trade negotiators resumed off-and-on talks. The US President Donald Trump has suspended new tariffs on a final $300 billion of Chinese imports, which would include iPhones.

Trade tension has slowed down economic growth in China, a major market for Apple, which effectively cut iPhone prices in China earlier this year after currency exchange rates had made its phones too expensive for many Chinese consumers.

Apple's market share in China declined to 5.8 per cent from 6.4 per cent, according to market research firm Canalys, in part because smartphone rival Huawei Technologies Co Ltd gained market share to become the top handset seller in the country.

But Apple experienced a smaller market share less than competitors such as Xiaomi Corp, Oppo and Vivo, according to Canalys data. Cook said that iPhone price adjustments, plus the Chinese government's move to cut phone taxes, helped keep iPhone sales in China from eroding further.

"Our trade-in and financing programs are doing extremely well in China," Cook told Reuters. "Because of the active installed base is growing in China, our services business is doing very well, growing double digits."

Apple shares have gained more than 20 per cent since early June when shares dropped on news that the US Department of Justice had jurisdiction over the company in a potential probe as part of a broader review of whether technology giants engage in anticompetitive practices.

Apple said revenue for its "Wearables, home and accessories" segment that contains devices like the Apple Watch and AirPods was $5.53 billion, compared with analyst estimates of $4.81 billion.

Apple said it returned more than $21 billion to shareholders during the fiscal third quarter, including $17 billion in share repurchases. It declared a dividend of 77 cents per share.

Apple Inc iPhone sales dropped to less than half of quarterly revenue for the first time in seven years, but CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday described the change as successfully diversifying away from a single product and forecast results above Wall Street targets.

Apple Inc iPhone sales dropped to less than half of quarterly revenue for the first time in seven years, but CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday described the change as successfully diversifying away from a single product and forecast results above Wall Street targets. That strategy proved especially useful in China, the world's largest smartphone market. Investors feared a drumbeat of negative shipment data from the Chinese government and analysts meant problems for the iPhone maker. Apple's greater China sales, which had gone into a near free-fall earlier this year, dipped only slightly, assuaging concerns that trade tension was undermining Apple's standing in one of its most important markets. Shares rose 4.25 per cent after hours. Moribund global mobile phone sales have led Apple to focus on accessories like the Apple Watch and growth in music, apps, gaming, video and a credit card coming in August. In mainland China, Cook said the overall number of Apple device users had grown in the fiscal third quarter, helping to increase the market for its services, whose sales were up by more than 10 per cent there. "We grew in mainland China," Cook told Reuters. "Non-iPhone revenue grew 17 per cent. We grew in every category outside of iPhone." But globally, iPhone sales fell 12 per cent to $25.99 billion, after dropping 17 per cent in the previous quarter, and matched Wall Street targets. Wearables and other accessories revenue rose nearly 50 per cent, topping expectations. Services revenue rose 12.6 per cent to $11.46 billion, slowing and slightly missing expectations but setting a new record. Apple said it expects revenue for the current fiscal fourth quarter of between $61 billion and $64 billion, compared with analyst estimates of $61.02 billion. At the high end of Apple's forecasted range, sales would beat the prior year's $62.90 billion in sales, even though analysts expected continued lacklustre iPhone sales until 5G models arrive in 2020. For the fiscal third quarter ended in June, Apple reported a 1 per cent rise in revenue to $53.8 billion and a 7 per cent drop in earnings per share to $2.18, compared with expectations of $53.39 billion and $2.10 per share, according to Refinitiv data. Hal Eddins, a chief economist for Apple shareholder Capital Investment Counsel, said he was pleasantly surprised to see iPhone sales declines slow down versus the prior quarter. "You don’t hear people talk about their phones like they did several years ago," Eddins said. But, "the key is that when people want to splurge on a phone, they do it with an Apple product." Apple did not give the number of active Apple devices, but in January it said it was 1.4 billion, with 900 million of those being iPhones. Investors used the number, called the installed base, as a proxy for how many subscribers it can gain for its services business. Cook told investors on a conference call Tuesday that Apple has 420 million paid subscribers to its services and third-party apps. The company has set a goal of 500 million by 2020. Trip Miller, the managing partner at Apple shareholder Gullane Capital Partners, said he wants to see services growth return to the 20 per cent range and thinks Apple needs to use its billions in cash to buy media properties to fuel its forthcoming television service. "You have to have a bigger installed base and have services that people get value from," Miller said. Trade tension still looms large Apple reported results as US and Chinese trade negotiators resumed off-and-on talks. The US President Donald Trump has suspended new tariffs on a final $300 billion of Chinese imports, which would include iPhones. Trade tension has slowed down economic growth in China, a major market for Apple, which effectively cut iPhone prices in China earlier this year after currency exchange rates had made its phones too expensive for many Chinese consumers. Apple's market share in China declined to 5.8 per cent from 6.4 per cent, according to market research firm Canalys, in part because smartphone rival Huawei Technologies Co Ltd gained market share to become the top handset seller in the country. But Apple experienced a smaller market share less than competitors such as Xiaomi Corp, Oppo and Vivo, according to Canalys data. Cook said that iPhone price adjustments, plus the Chinese government's move to cut phone taxes, helped keep iPhone sales in China from eroding further. "Our trade-in and financing programs are doing extremely well in China," Cook told Reuters. "Because of the active installed base is growing in China, our services business is doing very well, growing double digits." Apple shares have gained more than 20 per cent since early June when shares dropped on news that the US Department of Justice had jurisdiction over the company in a potential probe as part of a broader review of whether technology giants engage in anticompetitive practices. Apple said revenue for its "Wearables, home and accessories" segment that contains devices like the Apple Watch and AirPods was $5.53 billion, compared with analyst estimates of $4.81 billion. Apple said it returned more than $21 billion to shareholders during the fiscal third quarter, including $17 billion in share repurchases. It declared a dividend of 77 cents per share.

Apple's services, wearables shore up results as iPhone drops below half of sales

Fortune magazine revealed its annual ranking about the top 500 companies in the world with a list of interesting new entrants in it.&nbsp;

For the first time in world history, US companies are outnumbered by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/belt-and-road-projects-china-expands-its-anti-corruption-campaign-238093">business houses from China</a>. If there was ever a doubt China's economic might, then the Fortune 500 rankings dispel the doubt.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-eyes-high-tech-army-says-us-undermines-global-stability-238077">China eyes high-tech army, says US undermines global stability</a>

As the world balance of power shifts, Chinese companies took 129 spots in the yearly list, including 10 Taiwanese companies, while the US came second with 121 American businesses included.

Watch: Fortune 500 rankings — It's China's world after all 
&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1pApQ2acj0U" width="560"></iframe>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/walmart-fights-back-against-amazon-offers-one-day-delivery-without-shipping-fee-218603">US giant Walmart</a> continues to top the Fortune 500 list followed by Chinese state-owned oil and gas company Sinopec Group, which moved one rank up. Dutch company Royal Dutch Shell was ranked third followed by China National Petroleum and State Grid.

Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco appeared for the first time in top 10 at sixth position, while BP, Exxon Mobil, Volkswagen, and Toyota Motor are ranked 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th position respectively.

The Fortune Global 500, also known as Global 500, is an annual ranking of the top 500 corporations worldwide as measured by revenue and the list is compiled and published annually by Fortune magazine.

Fortune magazine revealed its annual ranking about the top 500 companies in the world with a list of interesting new entrants in it. For the first time in world history, US companies are outnumbered by business houses from China.

Fortune magazine revealed its annual ranking about the top 500 companies in the world with a list of interesting new entrants in it. For the first time in world history, US companies are outnumbered by business houses from China. If there was ever a doubt China's economic might, then the Fortune 500 rankings dispel the doubt. Also read: China eyes high-tech army, says US undermines global stability As the world balance of power shifts, Chinese companies took 129 spots in the yearly list, including 10 Taiwanese companies, while the US came second with 121 American businesses included. Watch: Fortune 500 rankings — It's China's world after all US giant Walmart continues to top the Fortune 500 list followed by Chinese state-owned oil and gas company Sinopec Group, which moved one rank up. Dutch company Royal Dutch Shell was ranked third followed by China National Petroleum and State Grid. Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco appeared for the first time in top 10 at sixth position, while BP, Exxon Mobil, Volkswagen, and Toyota Motor are ranked 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th position respectively. The Fortune Global 500, also known as Global 500, is an annual ranking of the top 500 corporations worldwide as measured by revenue and the list is compiled and published annually by Fortune magazine.

Fortune global 500: China deflates the US dominance in annual rankings

Xiaomi Has Introduced Two New Budget Phones In India, But How Good Are They?

Redmi Y3, Redmi 7: New Xiaomi Phones Arrive In India

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

Spotify Technology SA, the world's most popular paid music streaming service, said it racked up more than 1 million unique users in India across its free and premium tiers since launching less than a week ago.

Spotify launched in India on Tuesday, stepping into a price-sensitive market crowded by well-funded players such as Reliance Industries' JioSaavn and Apple's Apple Music.

The Swedish company is offering a free version that will run with ads, alongside a premium ad-free variant that will charge users 119 Indian rupees ($1.68) per month.

India, with a population of 1.3 billion and more than 400 million smartphone users, is a potentially huge market for the Swedish company.

According to media reports, Tencent-backed Gaana leads the Indian streaming market with over 80 million monthly users. Spotify has 207 million monthly active users globally and 96 million subscribers.

In India, the streaming service also competes with other players including Amazon's Prime Music, Alphabet Inc's Google Play Music and Xiaomi-backed Hungama.

Spotify Technology SA, the world's most popular paid music streaming service, said it racked up more than 1 million unique users in India across its free and premium tiers since launching less than a week ago.

Spotify Technology SA, the world's most popular paid music streaming service, said it racked up more than 1 million unique users in India across its free and premium tiers since launching less than a week ago. Spotify launched in India on Tuesday, stepping into a price-sensitive market crowded by well-funded players such as Reliance Industries' JioSaavn and Apple's Apple Music. The Swedish company is offering a free version that will run with ads, alongside a premium ad-free variant that will charge users 119 Indian rupees ($1.68) per month. India, with a population of 1.3 billion and more than 400 million smartphone users, is a potentially huge market for the Swedish company. According to media reports, Tencent-backed Gaana leads the Indian streaming market with over 80 million monthly users. Spotify has 207 million monthly active users globally and 96 million subscribers. In India, the streaming service also competes with other players including Amazon's Prime Music, Alphabet Inc's Google Play Music and Xiaomi-backed Hungama.

Spotify adds 1 million unique listeners in India in less than a week

China's global dominance in telecommunications networks could pose security threats for decades, Britain's cybersecurity chief warned in a speech in Singapore on Monday.

As countries move to roll out ultra-fast fifth-generation -- 5G -- mobile networks, concerns are mounting that Beijing could use hardware provided by Chinese firms to spy on Western governments.&nbsp;

"The strategic challenge of China's place in the era of globalised technology is much bigger than just one telecommunications equipment company... it's a first-order strategic challenge for us all," the head of Britain's GCHQ cybersecurity agency Jeremy Fleming said.&nbsp;

"It's a hugely complex strategic challenge which will span the next few decades... How we deal with it will be crucial for prosperity and security way beyond 5G contracts."&nbsp;

In the last year, the United States has stepped up pressure on its allies to block<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/huawei-breaks-price-ceiling-with-2600-folding-5g-smartphone-199404"> Chinese telecoms giant Huawei</a> from building their 5G networks, citing security concerns.&nbsp;

While the company's presence has been severely restricted in the US, Australia and New Zealand, Britain has launched a security review, which is due to decide whether Huawei technology will be used in the UK's 5G network. &nbsp;

Huawei executives in December met senior officials from Britain's National Cyber Security Centre where they agreed to a range of technical requirements to meet British security standards, which Fleming said is likely the world's "toughest oversight regime" for the firm.&nbsp;

"We need a diversified market that is competing on quality and security, as well as price," Fleming said, adding that the potential risks of allowing Chinese firms into markets need to be fully understood.&nbsp;

Speaking in Singapore to government and military leaders from across Southeast Asia, Fleming said that half of Britain's 1,100 cyber attacks in the past two had a state actor behind it, naming groups from China and Russia.&nbsp;

"Our future security will be guaranteed not by the quality of our coding, the design of our silicon, or the cunning of our cyber operators, but by the bonds that tie us together and the relationships that give us the confidence to act decisively against common threats," he added.&nbsp;

Last year, Australia banned Huawei equipment from its future 5G network while New Zealand has blocked its largest telecoms carrier from using Huawei technology in its rollout.

Both are members of the Five Eyes intelligence network, which also includes Britain, Canada and the US. &nbsp;

US prosecutors are also charging the firm with stealing trade secrets, saying it offered rewards to employees for stealing technology from other rivals.

Huawei is the world's second-largest smartphone vendor after Samsung and the leading supplier of the backbone equipment for wireless mobile networks worldwide which many countries are using to roll out 5G networks.&nbsp;

These will bring near-instantaneous connectivity, vast data capacity and futuristic technologies such as self-driving cars.

Chairman Guo Ping said Sunday that 5G security standards should be decided by technical experts, not politicians, and that Huawei hoped each country would make its decisions based on "national interests (and) not just listen to someone else's order".

China's global dominance in telecommunications networks could pose security threats for decades, Britain's cybersecurity chief warned in a speech in Singapore on Monday.

China's global dominance in telecommunications networks could pose security threats for decades, Britain's cybersecurity chief warned in a speech in Singapore on Monday. As countries move to roll out ultra-fast fifth-generation -- 5G -- mobile networks, concerns are mounting that Beijing could use hardware provided by Chinese firms to spy on Western governments. "The strategic challenge of China's place in the era of globalised technology is much bigger than just one telecommunications equipment company... it's a first-order strategic challenge for us all," the head of Britain's GCHQ cybersecurity agency Jeremy Fleming said. "It's a hugely complex strategic challenge which will span the next few decades... How we deal with it will be crucial for prosperity and security way beyond 5G contracts." In the last year, the United States has stepped up pressure on its allies to block Chinese telecoms giant Huawei from building their 5G networks, citing security concerns. While the company's presence has been severely restricted in the US, Australia and New Zealand, Britain has launched a security review, which is due to decide whether Huawei technology will be used in the UK's 5G network. Huawei executives in December met senior officials from Britain's National Cyber Security Centre where they agreed to a range of technical requirements to meet British security standards, which Fleming said is likely the world's "toughest oversight regime" for the firm. "We need a diversified market that is competing on quality and security, as well as price," Fleming said, adding that the potential risks of allowing Chinese firms into markets need to be fully understood. Speaking in Singapore to government and military leaders from across Southeast Asia, Fleming said that half of Britain's 1,100 cyber attacks in the past two had a state actor behind it, naming groups from China and Russia. "Our future security will be guaranteed not by the quality of our coding, the design of our silicon, or the cunning of our cyber operators, but by the bonds that tie us together and the relationships that give us the confidence to act decisively against common threats," he added. Last year, Australia banned Huawei equipment from its future 5G network while New Zealand has blocked its largest telecoms carrier from using Huawei technology in its rollout. Both are members of the Five Eyes intelligence network, which also includes Britain, Canada and the US. US prosecutors are also charging the firm with stealing trade secrets, saying it offered rewards to employees for stealing technology from other rivals. Huawei is the world's second-largest smartphone vendor after Samsung and the leading supplier of the backbone equipment for wireless mobile networks worldwide which many countries are using to roll out 5G networks. These will bring near-instantaneous connectivity, vast data capacity and futuristic technologies such as self-driving cars. Chairman Guo Ping said Sunday that 5G security standards should be decided by technical experts, not politicians, and that Huawei hoped each country would make its decisions based on "national interests (and) not just listen to someone else's order".

China's telecom dominance a security challenge: UK's cybersecurity chief

Xiaomi Mi Soundbar: Hit or miss?

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/samsung-electronics-apologises-to-workers-over-cancer-cases-in-semiconductor-factories-178875">Samsung Electronics </a>on Tuesday flagged its first quarterly profit drop in two years and painted a grim outlook owing to mounting competition from Chinese smartphone makers and declining chip prices.

The shock warning added to concerns about the broader tech sector after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/apple-inks-deal-with-samsung-to-distribute-itunes-shows-on-tvs-188696">Apple sent shudders</a> through world markets last week by slashing its revenue forecast blaming weak sales in China and citing the trade war.

Samsung — the world's top maker of smartphones and memory chips — has enjoyed record profits in recent years despite a series of setbacks, including a humiliating recall and the jailing of its de facto chief.

But operating profit during the October to December period was expected to be around 10.8 trillion won ($9.8 billion), down 28.7 per cent from a year earlier, Samsung said in an earnings estimate.

The figure was below market consensus of about 13.5 trillion won, according to market researcher FnGuide.

Sales dropped more than 10 per cent to 59 trillion won in the period, Samsung said.

It cited "lacklustre demand in the memory business and intensifying competition in the smartphone business" for the dismal outlook.

"Memory earnings fell significantly... due to weaker-than-expected demand amid inventory adjustments at data-centre customers," which led to a "greater-than-expected" drop in chip prices, it said.

"We expect earnings to remain subdued in the first quarter of 2019 due to difficult conditions for the memory business but strengthen in the second half."

But analyst Kim Sun-woo of Meritz Securities said worsening supply and demand for semiconductors and the structural challenges facing Samsung's smartphone business will hit profits throughout 2019.

Demand for DRAM memory chips "will hit a low in the fourth quarter of 2019", he added.

Samsung withholds net profit and sector-by-sector business performance data until it releases its final earnings report, which is expected later this month.

For 2018, the firm expects operating profit of 58.9 trillion won, up nearly 10 per cent on-year, and sales to inch up 1.6 per cent to 243.5 trillion won.

Shares in Samsung Electronics, the flagship subsidiary of the Samsung Group that dominates South Korea's economy, were down 0.5 per cent in afternoon trading.

Last week Apple said it expected to earn $84 billion in October-December, well down from the $89-$93 billion previously forecast as it blamed a steeper-than-expected "economic deceleration" in China and emerging markets.

The news battered world equities, with observers saying problems at the usually reliable US titan could point to broader demand weakness and the China-US trade war cited as a key factor.

"When Apple sounded the alarm bells for last quarter results, there was some thought the drops in China sales was an anti-Apple backlash due to escalating US-China tensions," said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA. "But these Samsung results are quite damning suggesting there... (is) a broader-based retail and manufacturer slowdown afoot."

While Samsung leads the global smartphone market with a 20 per cent share, it faces mounting competition from Chinese rivals like Huawei — which surpassed Apple to take second place last year — offering quality devices at cheaper prices.

"Samsung is losing ground to Huawei, Xiaomi and other Chinese rivals in the huge China and India markets," Neil Mawston, executive director at market researcher Strategy Analytics, said in a report.

Samsung once also had a 20 per cent market share in China but has seen its sales tumble to less than one per cent of the world's largest smartphone market in the third quarter, and last month announced the closure of its factory in Tianjin.

It will reportedly roll out a new line-up of its flagship Galaxy handsets at next month's World Mobile Congress in Barcelona as it seeks to regain a competitive edge in a market segment it once dominated.

Samsung is also set to introduce the world's first bendable smartphone in the first half.

Its reputation suffered a major blow after a damaging worldwide recall of its Galaxy Note 7 devices over exploding batteries in 2016, which cost the firm billions of dollars and shattered its global brand image.

It also took another hit after the bribery conviction of Lee Jae-Yong — the son and heir of the group's ailing current chairman Lee Kun-hee.

The 50-year-old scion was a key figure in the scandal that ousted former South Korean president Park Geun-Hye following massive nationwide protests and was sentenced to five years in jail last year.

But he was released from jail in February last year after several of his convictions were quashed on appeal.

Samsung has enjoyed record profits in recent years despite a series of setbacks, including a humiliating recall and the jailing of its de facto chief.

Samsung Electronics on Tuesday flagged its first quarterly profit drop in two years and painted a grim outlook owing to mounting competition from Chinese smartphone makers and declining chip prices. The shock warning added to concerns about the broader tech sector after Apple sent shudders through world markets last week by slashing its revenue forecast blaming weak sales in China and citing the trade war. Samsung — the world's top maker of smartphones and memory chips — has enjoyed record profits in recent years despite a series of setbacks, including a humiliating recall and the jailing of its de facto chief. But operating profit during the October to December period was expected to be around 10.8 trillion won ($9.8 billion), down 28.7 per cent from a year earlier, Samsung said in an earnings estimate. The figure was below market consensus of about 13.5 trillion won, according to market researcher FnGuide. Sales dropped more than 10 per cent to 59 trillion won in the period, Samsung said. It cited "lacklustre demand in the memory business and intensifying competition in the smartphone business" for the dismal outlook. "Memory earnings fell significantly... due to weaker-than-expected demand amid inventory adjustments at data-centre customers," which led to a "greater-than-expected" drop in chip prices, it said. "We expect earnings to remain subdued in the first quarter of 2019 due to difficult conditions for the memory business but strengthen in the second half." But analyst Kim Sun-woo of Meritz Securities said worsening supply and demand for semiconductors and the structural challenges facing Samsung's smartphone business will hit profits throughout 2019. Demand for DRAM memory chips "will hit a low in the fourth quarter of 2019", he added. Samsung withholds net profit and sector-by-sector business performance data until it releases its final earnings report, which is expected later this month. For 2018, the firm expects operating profit of 58.9 trillion won, up nearly 10 per cent on-year, and sales to inch up 1.6 per cent to 243.5 trillion won. Shares in Samsung Electronics, the flagship subsidiary of the Samsung Group that dominates South Korea's economy, were down 0.5 per cent in afternoon trading. Last week Apple said it expected to earn $84 billion in October-December, well down from the $89-$93 billion previously forecast as it blamed a steeper-than-expected "economic deceleration" in China and emerging markets. The news battered world equities, with observers saying problems at the usually reliable US titan could point to broader demand weakness and the China-US trade war cited as a key factor. "When Apple sounded the alarm bells for last quarter results, there was some thought the drops in China sales was an anti-Apple backlash due to escalating US-China tensions," said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA. "But these Samsung results are quite damning suggesting there... (is) a broader-based retail and manufacturer slowdown afoot." While Samsung leads the global smartphone market with a 20 per cent share, it faces mounting competition from Chinese rivals like Huawei — which surpassed Apple to take second place last year — offering quality devices at cheaper prices. "Samsung is losing ground to Huawei, Xiaomi and other Chinese rivals in the huge China and India markets," Neil Mawston, executive director at market researcher Strategy Analytics, said in a report. Samsung once also had a 20 per cent market share in China but has seen its sales tumble to less than one per cent of the world's largest smartphone market in the third quarter, and last month announced the closure of its factory in Tianjin. It will reportedly roll out a new line-up of its flagship Galaxy handsets at next month's World Mobile Congress in Barcelona as it seeks to regain a competitive edge in a market segment it once dominated. Samsung is also set to introduce the world's first bendable smartphone in the first half. Its reputation suffered a major blow after a damaging worldwide recall of its Galaxy Note 7 devices over exploding batteries in 2016, which cost the firm billions of dollars and shattered its global brand image. It also took another hit after the bribery conviction of Lee Jae-Yong — the son and heir of the group's ailing current chairman Lee Kun-hee. The 50-year-old scion was a key figure in the scandal that ousted former South Korean president Park Geun-Hye following massive nationwide protests and was sentenced to five years in jail last year. But he was released from jail in February last year after several of his convictions were quashed on appeal.

Samsung Electronics flags near 30% slump in Q4 operating profit

Smartphone and connected device maker Xiaomi filed for a Hong Kong initial public offering on Thursday that could raise $10 billion and become the largest listing by a Chinese technology firm in almost four years.

Xiaomi`s IPO, which will be one of the first in Hong Kong under new rules to attract tech firm listings, is a major win for the bourse as competition heats up between Hong Kong, New York and the Chinese mainland.

The listing is expected to raise about $10 billion via the public offering, giving Beijing-based Xiaomi a market value of between $80 billion and $100 billion, people familiar with the plans told Reuters.

Those targets, if achieved, will make it the biggest Chinese tech IPO since Chinese internet giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd raised $21.8 billion in 2014.

Xiaomi`s prospectus gave investors the first detailed look at its financial health ahead of the much-hyped IPO, which could be launched as soon as end-June, according to the people close to the process who requested anonymity as the details were not yet public.&nbsp

The numbers underscore how Xiaomi has remained resilient even as the global smartphone market has slowed, helped in part by a push overseas into markets like India.

The company said its revenue was 114.62 billion yuan ($18 billion) in 2017, up 67.5 per cent against 2016. Operating profit for 2017 was 12.22 billion yuan, up from 3.79 billion yuan a year ago.

It made a net loss of 43.89 billion yuan versus a profit of 491.6 million yuan in 2016, though this was impacted by the fair value changes of convertible redeemable preference shares.

Alongside smartphones, Xiaomi makes dozens of internet-connected home appliances and gadgets, including scooters, air purifiers and rice cookers, although it derives most of its profits from internet services.&nbsp

Its relatively cheap handsets pose a rising challenge to market leaders Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Apple Inc.

Xiaomi doubled its shipments in 2017 to become the world`s fourth-largest smartphone maker, according to Counterpoint Research, defying a global slowdown in smartphone sales.

It is also making a big push outside China`s borders, with 28 per cent of its sales derived from overseas markets last year, up from 6.1 per cent in 2015.

Yet margins on its smartphones are razor-thin. Xiaomi posted a gross profit margin of just 8.8 per cent for its smartphone business in 2017 compared to 60 per cent for its internet services business.

According to some analyst estimates, Apple`s flagship iPhone X and iPhone 8 have gross margins of around 60 per cent.

The company makes the lion`s share of its profit - 60 per cent - from internet services, including gaming and advertising linked to its homegrown user interface, MIUI, which had 190 million monthly active users as of March 2018.

Dual-Class Shares

Xiaomi`s listing plans come as the company and its investors look to capitalise on a bull run for the Hong Kong market, which has seen the benchmark Hang Seng Index rise about 27 per cent over the past year.

Armed with the new rules allowing the listing of companies with dual-class structures, Hong Kong is eyeing several tech listings that are expected in the coming two years from Chinese firms with a combined market cap of $500 billion.

Xiaomi said in its IPO application the company would have a weighted voting rights (WVR) structure, or dual-class shares. The WVR give greater power to founding shareholders even with minority shareholding.

The structure would allow the company to benefit from the "continuing vision and leadership" of the dual-class share beneficiaries, who would control the company for its "long-term prospects and strategy", it said.

Dual-class shares have been a contentious topic in Hong Kong since the city`s strict adherence to a one-share-one-vote principle cost it the float of Alibaba, which instead listed in New York.

Xiaomi is also likely to be among the first Chinese tech firms seeking a secondary listing in its home market, using the planned China depositary receipts route, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

CLSA, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc are sponsoring Xiaomi`s IPO. 
&nbsp

Xiaomi`s IPO, which will be one of the first in Hong Kong under new rules to attract tech firm listings, is a major win for the bourse as competition heats up between Hong Kong, New York and the Chinese mainland

Smartphone and connected device maker Xiaomi filed for a Hong Kong initial public offering on Thursday that could raise $10 billion and become the largest listing by a Chinese technology firm in almost four years. Xiaomi`s IPO, which will be one of the first in Hong Kong under new rules to attract tech firm listings, is a major win for the bourse as competition heats up between Hong Kong, New York and the Chinese mainland. The listing is expected to raise about $10 billion via the public offering, giving Beijing-based Xiaomi a market value of between $80 billion and $100 billion, people familiar with the plans told Reuters. Those targets, if achieved, will make it the biggest Chinese tech IPO since Chinese internet giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd raised $21.8 billion in 2014. Xiaomi`s prospectus gave investors the first detailed look at its financial health ahead of the much-hyped IPO, which could be launched as soon as end-June, according to the people close to the process who requested anonymity as the details were not yet public. The numbers underscore how Xiaomi has remained resilient even as the global smartphone market has slowed, helped in part by a push overseas into markets like India. The company said its revenue was 114.62 billion yuan ($18 billion) in 2017, up 67.5 per cent against 2016. Operating profit for 2017 was 12.22 billion yuan, up from 3.79 billion yuan a year ago. It made a net loss of 43.89 billion yuan versus a profit of 491.6 million yuan in 2016, though this was impacted by the fair value changes of convertible redeemable preference shares. Alongside smartphones, Xiaomi makes dozens of internet-connected home appliances and gadgets, including scooters, air purifiers and rice cookers, although it derives most of its profits from internet services. Its relatively cheap handsets pose a rising challenge to market leaders Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Apple Inc. Xiaomi doubled its shipments in 2017 to become the world`s fourth-largest smartphone maker, according to Counterpoint Research, defying a global slowdown in smartphone sales. It is also making a big push outside China`s borders, with 28 per cent of its sales derived from overseas markets last year, up from 6.1 per cent in 2015. Yet margins on its smartphones are razor-thin. Xiaomi posted a gross profit margin of just 8.8 per cent for its smartphone business in 2017 compared to 60 per cent for its internet services business. According to some analyst estimates, Apple`s flagship iPhone X and iPhone 8 have gross margins of around 60 per cent. The company makes the lion`s share of its profit - 60 per cent - from internet services, including gaming and advertising linked to its homegrown user interface, MIUI, which had 190 million monthly active users as of March 2018. Dual-Class Shares Xiaomi`s listing plans come as the company and its investors look to capitalise on a bull run for the Hong Kong market, which has seen the benchmark Hang Seng Index rise about 27 per cent over the past year. Armed with the new rules allowing the listing of companies with dual-class structures, Hong Kong is eyeing several tech listings that are expected in the coming two years from Chinese firms with a combined market cap of $500 billion. Xiaomi said in its IPO application the company would have a weighted voting rights (WVR) structure, or dual-class shares. The WVR give greater power to founding shareholders even with minority shareholding. The structure would allow the company to benefit from the "continuing vision and leadership" of the dual-class share beneficiaries, who would control the company for its "long-term prospects and strategy", it said. Dual-class shares have been a contentious topic in Hong Kong since the city`s strict adherence to a one-share-one-vote principle cost it the float of Alibaba, which instead listed in New York. Xiaomi is also likely to be among the first Chinese tech firms seeking a secondary listing in its home market, using the planned China depositary receipts route, two people with knowledge of the matter said. CLSA, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc are sponsoring Xiaomi`s IPO.

China's Xiaomi files for mega Hong Kong tech IPO, lifts lid on financials

Microsoft Corporation has partnered with Chines electronic and software company Xiaomi to work together on cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence, and hardware.

Under the signed memorandum of understanding, Microsoft has allowed Xiaomi to use its computing products including Azure, to develop phones, laptops, and other smart devices.

The move by Microsoft to collaborate with the Chinese company is expected to work in favour of Microsoft as it will give more reach and access to the Chinese market to an American company.

Currently focused on the Asia Pacific, Xiaomi will also be expanding its reach to West market as well.

According to reports both&nbsp;companies are also holding discussions to integrate Cortana, Microsoft&#39;s AI assistant currently struggling to compete with other AI assistants, with Mi AI speaker.

In 2017 Xiaomi was world&#39;s fifth most popular smartphone company trailing Apple and Samsung.

Earlier in 2015, Microsoft had signed a deal with Xiaomi to tests its Windows 10 on Xiaomi devices.

Microsoft had some major stumbles in recent time as they officially announced to end support for windows phone in 2017.

Under the memorandum of understanding, Microsoft has allowed Xiaomi to use its computing products including Azure, to develop phones, laptops, and other smart devices

Microsoft Corporation has partnered with Chines electronic and software company Xiaomi to work together on cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence, and hardware. Under the signed memorandum of understanding, Microsoft has allowed Xiaomi to use its computing products including Azure, to develop phones, laptops, and other smart devices. The move by Microsoft to collaborate with the Chinese company is expected to work in favour of Microsoft as it will give more reach and access to the Chinese market to an American company. Currently focused on the Asia Pacific, Xiaomi will also be expanding its reach to West market as well. According to reports both companies are also holding discussions to integrate Cortana, Microsoft's AI assistant currently struggling to compete with other AI assistants, with Mi AI speaker. In 2017 Xiaomi was world's fifth most popular smartphone company trailing Apple and Samsung. Earlier in 2015, Microsoft had signed a deal with Xiaomi to tests its Windows 10 on Xiaomi devices. Microsoft had some major stumbles in recent time as they officially announced to end support for windows phone in 2017.

Microsoft, Xiaomi collaborate to make AI powered speakers and smartphones

Facebook Inc&#39;s Oculus said on Monday it is partnering with Chinese phone maker Xiaomi Technology Co to make its new standalone virtual reality headset and also revealed that it will launch a version of the product exclusively for the Chinese market.

Oculus said Xiaomi would be its hardware partner for the new Oculus Go headset, announced last October, and would also make the China-specific &quot;Mi VR Standalone&quot; using Oculus technology.

Oculus, which social networking giant Facebook acquired in 2014, also said it is working closely with Qualcomm Inc and would use the company&#39;s Snapdragon 821 chipsets to power the mobile VR headsets.&nbsp;

The Oculus Go is set to release in early 2018, starting at a price of $199.

Oculus said Xiaomi would be its hardware partner for the new Oculus Go headset, announced last October

Facebook Inc's Oculus said on Monday it is partnering with Chinese phone maker Xiaomi Technology Co to make its new standalone virtual reality headset and also revealed that it will launch a version of the product exclusively for the Chinese market. Oculus said Xiaomi would be its hardware partner for the new Oculus Go headset, announced last October, and would also make the China-specific "Mi VR Standalone" using Oculus technology. Oculus, which social networking giant Facebook acquired in 2014, also said it is working closely with Qualcomm Inc and would use the company's Snapdragon 821 chipsets to power the mobile VR headsets. The Oculus Go is set to release in early 2018, starting at a price of $199.

Facebook's Oculus to partner with Xiaomi to build VR headsets

Xiaomi is set to launch the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus smartphones with bezel-less design on December 7. The company has already shared images of its new budget smartphone indicating it will arrive in four color options and now a retailer has jumped the gun to reveal the price.

Ahead of its official announcement, retailer AliExpress&nbsp;has listed&nbsp;the smartphone on its website. The Redmi 5 with 16GB storage is priced at $199.99 (around Rs 13,000) while the Redmi 5 Plus with 32GB storage is priced at $249.99 (around Rs 16,000). The smartphones are being sold by Xiaomi Online Store but the seller&rsquo;s connection with Xiaomi is not be verified.

The listing also comes with a disclaimer that the Redmi 5 smartphones are still in the pre-sale stage, indicating the listed specifications may not be final. With Redmi 5, Xiaomi is bringing the new FullView display design to the budget smartphone segment. The TENAA listing suggests Redmi 5 will get a 5.7-inch display while Redmi 5 Plus will sport a larger 5.9-inch display. Both the models with support the new taller 18:9 aspect ratio.

The smartphone should be available in three different storage options: 2GB RAM variant with 16GB storage, 3GB RAM variant with 32GB storage and 4GB RAM variant supporting 64GB internal storage. AliExpress has only listed the 2GB RAM and 3GB RAM variants on its website.

The Redmi 5 and&nbsp;Redmi 5 Plus&nbsp;seem to retain the overall design of existing Redmi series with metal body and rear fingerprint sensor. It is expected to run MIUI 9 based on Android 7.1.2 Nougat and will be backed by a generous 3,300mAh battery.

Xiaomi has revived its smartphone business after a brief period of decline in sales with the launch of Redmi Note 4 and the Redmi 4 series this year. With the new Redmi 5, the Chinese smartphone maker seems to have another big hit under its belt.

The company has already shared images of its new budget smartphone indicating it will arrive in four color options.

Xiaomi is set to launch the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus smartphones with bezel-less design on December 7. The company has already shared images of its new budget smartphone indicating it will arrive in four color options and now a retailer has jumped the gun to reveal the price. Ahead of its official announcement, retailer AliExpress has listed the smartphone on its website. The Redmi 5 with 16GB storage is priced at $199.99 (around Rs 13,000) while the Redmi 5 Plus with 32GB storage is priced at $249.99 (around Rs 16,000). The smartphones are being sold by Xiaomi Online Store but the seller’s connection with Xiaomi is not be verified. The listing also comes with a disclaimer that the Redmi 5 smartphones are still in the pre-sale stage, indicating the listed specifications may not be final. With Redmi 5, Xiaomi is bringing the new FullView display design to the budget smartphone segment. The TENAA listing suggests Redmi 5 will get a 5.7-inch display while Redmi 5 Plus will sport a larger 5.9-inch display. Both the models with support the new taller 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone should be available in three different storage options: 2GB RAM variant with 16GB storage, 3GB RAM variant with 32GB storage and 4GB RAM variant supporting 64GB internal storage. AliExpress has only listed the 2GB RAM and 3GB RAM variants on its website. The Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus seem to retain the overall design of existing Redmi series with metal body and rear fingerprint sensor. It is expected to run MIUI 9 based on Android 7.1.2 Nougat and will be backed by a generous 3,300mAh battery. Xiaomi has revived its smartphone business after a brief period of decline in sales with the launch of Redmi Note 4 and the Redmi 4 series this year. With the new Redmi 5, the Chinese smartphone maker seems to have another big hit under its belt.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus launch tomorrow, price leaks

Xiaomi&#39;s latest was unveiled on Thursday and shall be available in India at Rs 4,999 onwards, making it one of the most affordable handsets in the country. Xiaomi Redmi 5A is a successor to Redmi 4A which sold four million units within eight months of its launch.

The Redmi 5A will be available from December 7 across Flipkart, Mi.com, and Mi Home stores, followed by offline retailers including Mi Preferred Partners in the subsequent weeks.

Xiaomi Redmi 5A was previously launched in China in October and so far was being marketed as &#39;Desh ka Smartphone&#39; in the country.

Redmi 5A&#39;s 2GB RAM/16GB storage variant is priced at Rs 4,999 while the 3GB RAM/32GB storage version shall be available for Rs 6,999.

Reportedly, the 2GB RAM version will be made available for Rs 5,999 after its first five million unit sale.

&quot;The Rs 1,000 discount reflects a gift from Xiaomi India towards all its Mi Fans for making the brand No 1 in the country,&quot; an official statement noted.

Redmi 5A will have a 5-inch display, 1.4GHz quadcore Qualcomm processor, 5MP front and 13MP rear camera along with a 3,000 mAh battery.

The handset is dual-sim enabled and can contain a microSD card up to 128GB.&nbsp;

Offering up to 8 days of standby time, Redmi 5A &quot;comes equipped with a 13MP rear camera with Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) for fast focusing and a f/2.2 aperture that guarantees excellent picture clarity. It comes with a metallic matte finish, and will be available in three colours: Dark grey, Gold and Rose gold,&quot; notes the official press release.&nbsp;

Reliance has put up an exciting offer which will provide Xiaomi&rsquo;s Redmi 5A smartphone users with free unlimited calling (local and STD), 1GB data per day and unlimited SMS.

The plan offers the free subscription for the Jio apps and comes with a validity of 28 days. Redmi 5A users will also be entitled to a Rs 1000 cashback on 12 months of continuous recharge with the Rs 199 per month plan.

The cashback will only be available in the form of vouchers worth Rs 1000 which will be credited to customers account under MyJio app.&nbsp;

Additionally, customers will be given 10 vouchers of Rs 100 denomination right after the end of 12 months.

A customer will need to recharge their account with Rs 199 plan every month for a year to get Rs 1000 cashback. Rs 199 plan will be available for the first 12 months.&nbsp;

Xiaomi's latest was unveiled on Thursday and shall be available in India at Rs 4,999 onwards

Xiaomi's latest was unveiled on Thursday and shall be available in India at Rs 4,999 onwards, making it one of the most affordable handsets in the country. Xiaomi Redmi 5A is a successor to Redmi 4A which sold four million units within eight months of its launch. The Redmi 5A will be available from December 7 across Flipkart, Mi.com, and Mi Home stores, followed by offline retailers including Mi Preferred Partners in the subsequent weeks. Xiaomi Redmi 5A was previously launched in China in October and so far was being marketed as 'Desh ka Smartphone' in the country. Redmi 5A's 2GB RAM/16GB storage variant is priced at Rs 4,999 while the 3GB RAM/32GB storage version shall be available for Rs 6,999. Reportedly, the 2GB RAM version will be made available for Rs 5,999 after its first five million unit sale. "The Rs 1,000 discount reflects a gift from Xiaomi India towards all its Mi Fans for making the brand No 1 in the country," an official statement noted. Redmi 5A will have a 5-inch display, 1.4GHz quadcore Qualcomm processor, 5MP front and 13MP rear camera along with a 3,000 mAh battery. The handset is dual-sim enabled and can contain a microSD card up to 128GB. Offering up to 8 days of standby time, Redmi 5A "comes equipped with a 13MP rear camera with Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) for fast focusing and a f/2.2 aperture that guarantees excellent picture clarity. It comes with a metallic matte finish, and will be available in three colours: Dark grey, Gold and Rose gold," notes the official press release. Reliance has put up an exciting offer which will provide Xiaomi’s Redmi 5A smartphone users with free unlimited calling (local and STD), 1GB data per day and unlimited SMS. The plan offers the free subscription for the Jio apps and comes with a validity of 28 days. Redmi 5A users will also be entitled to a Rs 1000 cashback on 12 months of continuous recharge with the Rs 199 per month plan. The cashback will only be available in the form of vouchers worth Rs 1000 which will be credited to customers account under MyJio app. Additionally, customers will be given 10 vouchers of Rs 100 denomination right after the end of 12 months. A customer will need to recharge their account with Rs 199 plan every month for a year to get Rs 1000 cashback. Rs 199 plan will be available for the first 12 months.

Xiaomi Redmi 5A launched in India

The Intelligence Bureau(IB) today alerted the government on alleged &quot;spyware or other malicious content&quot; on Chinese apps being used in Indian mobile phone connections.

The IB believes at least 42 apps are linked to Chinese spyware and has instructed the government to have it removed from phones used by Indian Army soldiers.

The intelligence agency has reportedly picked up a number of Android and ioS apps developed by Chinese developers. The agency believes the apps are &quot;detrimental to data security&quot;&nbsp;and a huge threat to national security.

India&#39;s premier intelligence bureau has told the government that military personnel who are already using it should &quot;immediately uninstall the app&quot; and &quot;reformat their cellphones as per strict compliance&quot;.

India is one of the biggest markets for Chinese smartphones with Vivo, Xiaomi, OnePlus &amp; Lenovo dominating the market. Last year, India had displaced the US as the second largest shipment of smartphones crossing 100 million with several being manufactured by Chinese cellphone makers.&nbsp;

In July, the Indian government had decided to ban a few Chinese phones over security concerns as some did not have the IMEI number - the 15-digit number used to track mobile phones.

India's premier intelligence bureau has told the government military personnel already using it should "immediately uninstall the app"

The Intelligence Bureau(IB) today alerted the government on alleged "spyware or other malicious content" on Chinese apps being used in Indian mobile phone connections. The IB believes at least 42 apps are linked to Chinese spyware and has instructed the government to have it removed from phones used by Indian Army soldiers. The intelligence agency has reportedly picked up a number of Android and ioS apps developed by Chinese developers. The agency believes the apps are "detrimental to data security" and a huge threat to national security. India's premier intelligence bureau has told the government that military personnel who are already using it should "immediately uninstall the app" and "reformat their cellphones as per strict compliance". India is one of the biggest markets for Chinese smartphones with Vivo, Xiaomi, OnePlus & Lenovo dominating the market. Last year, India had displaced the US as the second largest shipment of smartphones crossing 100 million with several being manufactured by Chinese cellphone makers. In July, the Indian government had decided to ban a few Chinese phones over security concerns as some did not have the IMEI number - the 15-digit number used to track mobile phones.

42 China-linked apps spyware threat: Intelligence Bureau

Xiaomi has launched its first ever bezel-less handset, Mi MIX 2, in India.&nbsp;

The phone is priced at Rs 35,999.

The handset has been designed in a four-sided&nbsp;curved ceramic body with a 5.99-inch bezel-less display.

It will come in an 18.9 aspect ratio.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Here&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiMIX2?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MiMIX2</a> - 5.99&rdquo; full-screen display | Snapdragon 835 | 6GB RAM | 128GB ROM | Global LTE support 
RT it with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiMIX2?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MiMIX2</a> &amp; you might win 1! <a href="https://t.co/K22ZqKwG9f">pic.twitter.com/K22ZqKwG9f</a>
&mdash; Mi India (@XiaomiIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/XiaomiIndia/status/917654654804148224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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With Snapdragon 835, 6GB RAM the new launch also provides 12 GB variant.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

The model will&nbsp;come with a hidden speaker, proximity sensor, Sony IMX386 sensor with 4-axis OIS.

Besides the Xiaomi stores, the Mi MIX 2 will also be available exclusively on Flipkart.

The phone will be available in a preview sale on October 17.&nbsp;

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A special preview sale of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiMIX2?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MiMIX2</a> will start on October 17th for our mi fans at 12 noon exclusively on <a href="https://t.co/D3b3QtmvaT">https://t.co/D3b3QtmvaT</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Flipkart?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Flipkart</a> <a href="https://t.co/0CHvQVvrP1">pic.twitter.com/0CHvQVvrP1</a>
&mdash; Mi India (@XiaomiIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/XiaomiIndia/status/917655411750191104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The phone will be available with a zero per cent EMI offer&nbsp;via all retail channels.&nbsp;

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We&rsquo;ll be offering <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiMIX2?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MiMIX2</a> with 0% EMI, exclusively on <a href="https://t.co/D3b3QtmvaT">https://t.co/D3b3QtmvaT</a> and Flipkart! RT if you&rsquo;re planning to buy one! <a href="https://t.co/511GUv6xmo">pic.twitter.com/511GUv6xmo</a>
&mdash; Mi India (@XiaomiIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/XiaomiIndia/status/917655863392739328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The new launch from Xiaomi will compete with One Plus 5 which is also priced at around the same price.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The handset has been designed in a four-sided?curved ceramic body with a 5.99-inch bezel-less display

Xiaomi has launched its first ever bezel-less handset, Mi MIX 2, in India. The phone is priced at Rs 35,999. The handset has been designed in a four-sided curved ceramic body with a 5.99-inch bezel-less display. It will come in an 18.9 aspect ratio. Here's #MiMIX2 - 5.99” full-screen display | Snapdragon 835 | 6GB RAM | 128GB ROM | Global LTE support RT it with #MiMIX2 & you might win 1! pic.twitter.com/K22ZqKwG9f — Mi India (@XiaomiIndia) October 10, 2017 × With Snapdragon 835, 6GB RAM the new launch also provides 12 GB variant. The model will come with a hidden speaker, proximity sensor, Sony IMX386 sensor with 4-axis OIS. Besides the Xiaomi stores, the Mi MIX 2 will also be available exclusively on Flipkart. The phone will be available in a preview sale on October 17. A special preview sale of #MiMIX2 will start on October 17th for our mi fans at 12 noon exclusively on https://t.co/D3b3QtmvaT and @Flipkart pic.twitter.com/0CHvQVvrP1 — Mi India (@XiaomiIndia) October 10, 2017 × The phone will be available with a zero per cent EMI offer via all retail channels. We’ll be offering #MiMIX2 with 0% EMI, exclusively on https://t.co/D3b3QtmvaT and Flipkart! RT if you’re planning to buy one! pic.twitter.com/511GUv6xmo — Mi India (@XiaomiIndia) October 10, 2017 × The new launch from Xiaomi will compete with One Plus 5 which is also priced at around the same price.

Xiaomi launches Mi MIX 2 in India @ Rs 35,999

The Chinese Smartphone giant Xiaomi is all set to launch its flagship dual camera phone in India.&nbsp;

The company has recently sent media invites for an event scheduled on the 5th September in Delhi. The invitation picture included an image of dual rear camera indicating one of it to be a larger sensor while the other to be a smaller one.&nbsp;

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RT if you know which product we will launch! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlagshipDualCamera?src=hash">#FlagshipDualCamera</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/XiaomiGlobalLaunch?src=hash">#XiaomiGlobalLaunch</a> Register: <a href="https://t.co/16KKbgzyXl">https://t.co/16KKbgzyXl</a> <a href="https://t.co/16Ms5LApis">pic.twitter.com/16Ms5LApis</a>
&mdash; Mi India (@XiaomiIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/XiaomiIndia/status/902033010379259904">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Xiaomi&#39;s Managing Director Manu Kumar Jain has confirmed that Xiaomi will launch its first dual-camera phone in India in September

Though the company has not clarified the smartphone name it is highly speculated that it will introduce Mi 5X, as the same smartphone was recently launched in China.&nbsp;

Xiaomi Mi 5X handset measures 155.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm and weighs 165 grams. The phone which has already been introduced in China in July for 1499 Yuan, approximately Rs 14,285, is available in three colour variant- Gold, Black and Rose Gold.&nbsp;

The handset is designed with a full metal body&nbsp;with rounded edges and a 5.5 inch full HD( 1920 x 1080 pixels) curved glass display.

The dual camera setup at the rear panel comes with 12-megapixel sensors.&nbsp;

The 3080 mAh battery phone offers 4G with VoLTE, Bluetooth 4.2, WiFi (802.11 b/g/n), GPS with AGS/GLONASS, 3.5mm audio jack and USB type C.

Powered by 2 GHz octa-core Snapdragon 625 processor and Adreno 506 GPU coupled with 4GB RAM the handset runs on Android 7.1.1 Nougat based MIUI 9 operating system.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The company has recently sent media invites for an event scheduled on the 5th September in Delhi

The Chinese Smartphone giant Xiaomi is all set to launch its flagship dual camera phone in India. The company has recently sent media invites for an event scheduled on the 5th September in Delhi. The invitation picture included an image of dual rear camera indicating one of it to be a larger sensor while the other to be a smaller one. RT if you know which product we will launch! #FlagshipDualCamera #XiaomiGlobalLaunch Register: https://t.co/16KKbgzyXl pic.twitter.com/16Ms5LApis — Mi India (@XiaomiIndia) August 28, 2017 × Xiaomi's Managing Director Manu Kumar Jain has confirmed that Xiaomi will launch its first dual-camera phone in India in September Though the company has not clarified the smartphone name it is highly speculated that it will introduce Mi 5X, as the same smartphone was recently launched in China. Xiaomi Mi 5X handset measures 155.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm and weighs 165 grams. The phone which has already been introduced in China in July for 1499 Yuan, approximately Rs 14,285, is available in three colour variant- Gold, Black and Rose Gold. The handset is designed with a full metal body with rounded edges and a 5.5 inch full HD( 1920 x 1080 pixels) curved glass display. The dual camera setup at the rear panel comes with 12-megapixel sensors. The 3080 mAh battery phone offers 4G with VoLTE, Bluetooth 4.2, WiFi (802.11 b/g/n), GPS with AGS/GLONASS, 3.5mm audio jack and USB type C. Powered by 2 GHz octa-core Snapdragon 625 processor and Adreno 506 GPU coupled with 4GB RAM the handset runs on Android 7.1.1 Nougat based MIUI 9 operating system.

Xiaomi to launch first dual phone in India

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/watch-xiaomi-makes-a-phone-every-second-in-india-2697">Xiaomi</a>&#39;s Redmi Note 4 exploded in the pocket of a user in Andhra Pradesh causing him serious injuries.

Bhavana Suryakiran, a resident of Ravulapalem in Andhra Pradesh&#39;s East Godavari district, had bought the phone recently from Flipkart.&nbsp;

The company contacted the victim and launched an investigation into the incident.&nbsp;

&ldquo;We take such matters seriously as customer safety is of utmost importance for Xiaomi. All of our devices go through stringent quality tests,&rdquo; a Xiaomi spokesperson said.

Suryakiran has claimed compensation from <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/qa-xiaomis-jai-mani-on-mi-6-india-launch-hugo-barras-exit-and-redmi-phones-slowdown-complaints-17006">Xiaomi</a>. He also said that he will lodge a case against the company.

&nbsp;

Bhavana Suryakiran, a resident of Ravulapalem in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district, had bought the phone recently from Flipkart

Xiaomi's Redmi Note 4 exploded in the pocket of a user in Andhra Pradesh causing him serious injuries. Bhavana Suryakiran, a resident of Ravulapalem in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district, had bought the phone recently from Flipkart. The company contacted the victim and launched an investigation into the incident. “We take such matters seriously as customer safety is of utmost importance for Xiaomi. All of our devices go through stringent quality tests,” a Xiaomi spokesperson said. Suryakiran has claimed compensation from Xiaomi. He also said that he will lodge a case against the company.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 explodes in user's pocket in Andhra Pradesh

Xiaomi&nbsp;India has introduced a new phone. Called Mi Max 2, the new matte black colour phone with a bigger display and battery is priced at Rs 16,999.&nbsp;

The handset with a 6.44 inches large immersive display and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 has a 2.5D curved design. The phone incorporates a storage capacity of&nbsp;4GB RAM and 64GB ROM.&nbsp;

With 5300mAh battery, the phone can run for two days without charging. It has been designed with Snapdragon 625 with 14nm FinFET technology. The Sony IMX386 pixel camera in the phone enables low light photography. The newly designed phone also has a rear fingerprint sensor.

The handset will be available on mi.com and Mi Home store in Bengaluru on 20 and 21 July. &nbsp;From 27 July, the phone will be available on other online ventures like Flipkart, Amazon, Tata Cliq and Paytm, besides several other offline shops.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The new matte black colour phone has been designed with a bigger display and battery

Xiaomi India has introduced a new phone. Called Mi Max 2, the new matte black colour phone with a bigger display and battery is priced at Rs 16,999. The handset with a 6.44 inches large immersive display and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 has a 2.5D curved design. The phone incorporates a storage capacity of 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM. With 5300mAh battery, the phone can run for two days without charging. It has been designed with Snapdragon 625 with 14nm FinFET technology. The Sony IMX386 pixel camera in the phone enables low light photography. The newly designed phone also has a rear fingerprint sensor. The handset will be available on mi.com and Mi Home store in Bengaluru on 20 and 21 July. From 27 July, the phone will be available on other online ventures like Flipkart, Amazon, Tata Cliq and Paytm, besides several other offline shops.

Xiaomi introduces Mi Max 2 @ Rs 16,999

Xiaomi has tied up with a web-based portal GadgetWood to offer customers one-day repair and delivery services. The partnership was conceived after a three-month pilot project in Delhi-NCR region, with nearly 500 customers availing the services during the test period.

Xiaomi India head Manu Kumar Jain told EconomicTimes, &ldquo;We want to bring door delivery services to customers, who otherwise have no time to travel and identify outlets to service their gadgets in.&rdquo;

GadgetWood is a multi-brand repair and support provider for mobiles and tablets and also features onsite pickup and delivery of devices with unlimited doorstep assistance. It also allows customers to access live updates on the status of the repair process, get SMS updates, and also telephonic and remote support. The one-year-old startup recently managed to raise Rs 1.1 crore in the first round of funding from Indian Angel Network.

&ldquo;As a startup, we are constantly looking for such opportunities. We reached out to them (Xiaomi India) and got a quick response,&rdquo; GadgetWood co-founder and director Jayant Jha told.

Xiaomi is one of the few smartphone manufacturing companies with customer-centric policies. The new service will be a boon to the working class who needn&rsquo;t rush to the service center after working hours and wait for their turns. Another challenge lies in the daunting task of locating the service outlets in metro cities.

Xiaomi has tied up with a web-based portal GadgetWood to offer customers one-day repair and delivery services for its customers. The partnership was conceived after a three-month pilot project in Delhi

Xiaomi has tied up with a web-based portal GadgetWood to offer customers one-day repair and delivery services. The partnership was conceived after a three-month pilot project in Delhi-NCR region, with nearly 500 customers availing the services during the test period. Xiaomi India head Manu Kumar Jain told EconomicTimes, “We want to bring door delivery services to customers, who otherwise have no time to travel and identify outlets to service their gadgets in.” GadgetWood is a multi-brand repair and support provider for mobiles and tablets and also features onsite pickup and delivery of devices with unlimited doorstep assistance. It also allows customers to access live updates on the status of the repair process, get SMS updates, and also telephonic and remote support. The one-year-old startup recently managed to raise Rs 1.1 crore in the first round of funding from Indian Angel Network. “As a startup, we are constantly looking for such opportunities. We reached out to them (Xiaomi India) and got a quick response,” GadgetWood co-founder and director Jayant Jha told. Xiaomi is one of the few smartphone manufacturing companies with customer-centric policies. The new service will be a boon to the working class who needn’t rush to the service center after working hours and wait for their turns. Another challenge lies in the daunting task of locating the service outlets in metro cities.

Soon Xiaomi customers won?t need to visit a customer care center for after-sales service

&nbsp;Xiaomi last year announced the Mi Max phablet with a 6.44-inch full HD display for Rs 14,999. Earlier this year in May, the company finally launched the phablet&rsquo;s successor, called the Mi Max 2. This new phablet boasts the same display size and resolution but comes with incremental upgrades under the hood. Now it seems like Xiaomi is gearing up to bring the Mi Max 2 to India which is expected to fall within the 20,000 price tag.&nbsp;

While there is no official word yet from Xiaomi, a 91mobiles report suggests that the Mi Max 2 launch could take place on July 26. The report further suggests that the Mi Max 2 will initially be sold via online channels, but will eventually be available on offline channels. The launch time frame falls in line with a teaser by Xiaomi India head Manu Kumar Jain, who hinted at an announcement on July 23. While all signs point to a Mi Max 2 launch, some reports claim that Xiaomi could, in fact, launch its flagship Mi 6 smartphone.

The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 was launched in China with a price tag of RMB 1,699 (Rs 16,000 approximately) for the 64GB variant, and RMB 1,999 (Rs 19,000 approximately) for the 128GB variant. The report claims that Xiaomi will be sticking to the sub-Rs 20,000 price tag for the Mi Max 2 in India. In comparison, last year&rsquo;s Mi Max was priced at Rs 14,999 for the 4GB/64GB variant and Rs 19,999 for the 4GB/128GB internal storage variant.

Xiaomi Mi Max 2 specifications, features 
The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 features a 6.44-inch full HD (1080p) display. It is powered by Qualcomm&rsquo;s Snapdragon 625 processor paired with 4GB of RAM. On the camera front, the smartphone sports a 12-megapixel rear camera with a Sony IMX386 sensor and features like auto-focus, LED flash, PDAF support, and HDR. For selfies and video calling, the smartphone comes with a 5-megapixel camera.&nbsp;

Keeping the phablet ticking is a massive 5,300mAh battery, which the company claims is good enough to last for two days on a single charge. Xiaomi further claims that the battery is expected to last for 18 hours of video playback, 10 days of music playback; talk time of up to 57 hours and one can play games for up to nine hours. The battery also supports Qualcomm&rsquo;s Quick Charge 3.0 and reverse charging. On the connectivity front, the phablet includes dual-SIM support, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB Type-C support.&nbsp;

The new Mi Max 2 with incremental upgrades is expected to fall within the 20,000 price tag

Xiaomi last year announced the Mi Max phablet with a 6.44-inch full HD display for Rs 14,999. Earlier this year in May, the company finally launched the phablet’s successor, called the Mi Max 2. This new phablet boasts the same display size and resolution but comes with incremental upgrades under the hood. Now it seems like Xiaomi is gearing up to bring the Mi Max 2 to India which is expected to fall within the 20,000 price tag. While there is no official word yet from Xiaomi, a 91mobiles report suggests that the Mi Max 2 launch could take place on July 26. The report further suggests that the Mi Max 2 will initially be sold via online channels, but will eventually be available on offline channels. The launch time frame falls in line with a teaser by Xiaomi India head Manu Kumar Jain, who hinted at an announcement on July 23. While all signs point to a Mi Max 2 launch, some reports claim that Xiaomi could, in fact, launch its flagship Mi 6 smartphone. The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 was launched in China with a price tag of RMB 1,699 (Rs 16,000 approximately) for the 64GB variant, and RMB 1,999 (Rs 19,000 approximately) for the 128GB variant. The report claims that Xiaomi will be sticking to the sub-Rs 20,000 price tag for the Mi Max 2 in India. In comparison, last year’s Mi Max was priced at Rs 14,999 for the 4GB/64GB variant and Rs 19,999 for the 4GB/128GB internal storage variant. Xiaomi Mi Max 2 specifications, features The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 features a 6.44-inch full HD (1080p) display. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 processor paired with 4GB of RAM. On the camera front, the smartphone sports a 12-megapixel rear camera with a Sony IMX386 sensor and features like auto-focus, LED flash, PDAF support, and HDR. For selfies and video calling, the smartphone comes with a 5-megapixel camera. Keeping the phablet ticking is a massive 5,300mAh battery, which the company claims is good enough to last for two days on a single charge. Xiaomi further claims that the battery is expected to last for 18 hours of video playback, 10 days of music playback; talk time of up to 57 hours and one can play games for up to nine hours. The battery also supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 and reverse charging. On the connectivity front, the phablet includes dual-SIM support, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB Type-C support.

Xiaomi Mi Max 2 India launch reportedly scheduled for July 26

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