Tag: Xiaomi India

Xiaomi Finally Launches the Mi4 in India Along With MIUI6

Xiaomi has enjoyed quite some success in the Indian smartphone market with its flash sales and aggressive pricing despite being surrounded with various controversies regarding patent disputes and privacy concerns. Now, the world’s third largest smartphone maker has launched its much awaited Mi4 handset in India at a price of Rs.19,999.

Launched back in July 2014, the Mi4 flaunts a 5 inch 1920 x 1080 pixels IPS display and is powered by a 2.5 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor paired with 3 GB of RAM. The handset gets in juice from a 3,080mAh battery. The Mi 4, however, lags behind it competitors in two important parameters, less internal storage and lack of 4G network support.

Post by Mi India.

On the camera front, the Mi4 has a power packed 13MP rear snapper with LED Flash, Sony IMX214 BSI sensor and 4K video recording, along with a whopping 8MP front shooter with Sony Exmor R sensor. The phone runs on Android 4.4.3 KitKat and includes connectivity options like 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi Direct.

Along with Mi4, Xiaomi has announced its latest OS – MIUI 6 bringing a design overhaul with more colorful, minimalist looks, enhanced security and new phone features. MIUI 6 brings a less-distracting, simpler UI and Xiaomi claims it will be a dive-in-and-use affair without the need to familiarize yourself with it. Colors play a big part of MIUI 6, while many apps appear white or grey key accents are coloured in red, orange and a spectrum of other colours, making MIUI 6 look a little like iOS 7 and 8. Some apps even appear to have an immersive parallax effect – the Clock for one.

If the sale of any of its previous models is anything to go by, the Mi4 is going to have an epic response. All of Xiaomi’s phones have been ultra-coveted and ultra-successful because they offer a combination of specs and price that is virtually unbeatable. This is what also makes the Mi4 such a potential sensation.

Sale of this device will take place in the traditional ‘Flash Sales’ stratergy on Flipkart on 19th February, 2015. Registrations for this device will be open today at 6 PM.

Specs	Xiaomi Mi4
Display	5.0 inches, 1080 x 1920 pixels
Processor	Quad-core 2.5 GHz, Snapdragon 801
RAM	3GB
Storage	16GB, non expandable
Camera	13MP Rear and 8MP Front
Battery	3080 mAh
OS	Android 4.4.3 KitKat With MiUi 6
Price	Rs. 19,999

January 28, 2015

Xiaomi is All Set to Launch the Mi4 in India Tomorrow

The Mi4 has been the next most awaited flagship by Xiaomi and without testing more patience of its fan base in India, the company is geared to launch the Mi4 tomorrow. The world’s third largest smartphone manufacturer has sent out media invites for the same.

The press invite adds a photo that depicts three similar devices in a row. On the top of them is a quote “Mi hits a 4 and 6.” Xiaomi has tapped on the right nerve to entice Indian customers by talking the language of cricket. It can be said that the Chinese smartphone maker might have special plans for Mi4 and a collaboration with sports can be expected.

Xiaomi unveiled the Mi4 in July last year. The phone flaunts a 5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) IPS display. The device is powered by a 2.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor paired with 3 GB of RAM. Packing a massive battery of 3,080mAh, the handset comes with 16 GB or 64 GB of nonexpendable internal storage capacity.

On the camera front, the Mi4 has a power packed 13MP rear snapper with LED Flash, Sony IMX214 BSI sensor and 4K video recording, along with a whopping 8MP front shooter with Sony Exmor R sensor. The phone runs on Android 4.4.3 KitKat and includes connectivity options like 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi Direct. The handset is likely to be priced under Rs. 20,000.

January 27, 2015
Xiaomi’s Last Sale Sells 90,000 Units Before its Probable Ban

Xiaomi is in a bit of a legal tussle with Swedish communication giant Ericsson. The Chinese smartphone maker was banned by the Delhi High Court(DHC) on a patent infringement complaint by Ericsson. The court later allowed the company to sell devices with Qualcomm chipsets until January 8th. Xiaomi is making the best of this sale period afforded to it by the DHC and brought huge stocks for its flash sale today.

According to the companies official FB page they had 50,000 handsets of the Redmi Note 4G and 40,000 pieces of the Redmi 1S. This was the first time the company brought two devices for a flash sale in a single day and the reason is pretty apparent, its the ban that starts from January 9th.

50000 Redmi Note 4G were sold in 5 Seconds

40000 Redmi 1S were sold in 4 Seconds

As usual only only folks who registered yesterday, the 5th of January were allowed to participate in the sale. The flash sale for the Redmi Note 4G was scheduled at 2 PM whereas the Redmi 1S sale was scheduled at 5 PM.

According to Xiaomi India head Manu Kumar Jain, the Redmi Note 4G went out of stock in just 5 seconds. He also added that there were more that 5,00,000 registration for todays sale.

Today’s sales of Redmi Note 4G: went out of stock within 5 seconds. Thank you Mi fans for your awesome support. @MiIndiaOfficial

— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) January 6, 2015

The Redmi 1S which went on sale at 5.00 PM too went out of stock almost immediately. According to Manu Jain, it went off the shelves in 4 seconds. Today’s sale shows that the interest in the handsets by Xiaomi hasn’t waned much in India. The company is growing strong worldwide and its strategy of providing high quality specs through online flash sales have really paid off.

Today’s sales of Redmi 1S: went out of stock within 4 seconds. Thank you Mi fans for your love and support. @MiIndiaOfficial — Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) January 6, 2015

The next sale is listed to be held on January 13 which is still tentative as the ban on the sale of the devices begins starting January 9th. The High Court of Delhi has set a date of hearing on February 5th 2015. The company now has a big fan base in India and it will be disappointing news for the company if it loses on such a giant market.

Update: Xiaomi has reported later that due to unforeseen logistic delays they were only able to bring 20,000 units of the Redmi 1S for yesterday’s sale.

January 6, 2015
Xiaomi Redmi Note Fly Off the Shelves Within Seconds

The much awaited 4G variant of Xiaomi’s blockbuster Redmi Note was officially up for grab today. The flash sale started (like always) at 2PM today on Flipkart allowing registered users to buy Redmi Note 4G for Rs. 9,999.

There were only 40,000 units up for sale, whereas, according to Flipkart, 200,000 people registered for the Redmi Note 4G variant. Like in the past, this one was also a torrid affair and the Redmi Note 4G was out of the stock in seconds. Although, last week the Redmi 1S, after a prolonged ban, did not get the expected response.

The major difference between the 4G and 3G variants of the Redmi Note is the processor and connectivity support. As the name suggests, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G is a 4G LTE ready device. It is further powered by a 1.6GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU coupled with 2GB of RAM.

Although Xiaomi will be pleased with the response, there continues to remain a partial ban on the company and it will be interesting to observe how this Chinese superpower will proceed. As as now Xiaomi seems to be stronger than ever, KUDOS!

December 30, 2014
Xiaomi Grows Stronger With New Investments Worth $1.1 Billion

Chinese powerhouse Xiaomi refuses to look back in its pursuit to the top. The smartphone maker has become a major disruptive force in the industry. Industry Sales reports show that Xiaomi has reached the third spot in the global market, behind Samsung and Apple. That’s a phenomenal rise for a company that came into existence in 2010. Now, Xiaomi has taken a step ahead by raising $1.1 Billion in the latest round of funding, and its valuation now stands at more than $45 Billion.

The USP of Xiaomi is to provide devices with high specifications at prices comparatively lower than the competition. This coupled with an exclusive internet-based flash sale model makes the device more desirable for the users.

With more than $45 Billion in valuation, Xiaomi has now become the most valuable startup.

Investors in this round of funding included private equity firms like All-Stars Investment, DST Global, Hopu Investment Management, Yunfeng Capital, and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC. The company was previously been supported by Temasek Holdings Pte, Qiming Venture Partners, Morningside Venture Capital and DST.

Xiaomi has seen a meteoric rise in its valuation over just a year. Last year it garnered $10 Billion after the last round of financing. This year it crossed over $45 Billion, thereby towering over its contemporary startups like, Uber, Dropbox, Pinterest, etc. It can, in fact, be considered the most valuable startup right now.

In India, it faces some challenges, thanks to a patent infringement complaint by Ericsson. We’ll have to wait till January to know the fate of companies India plans. Xiaomi has said that India is an important market for them and by the looks of it, Indians have embraced the brand too. It just a matter of time that the company uses its new found wealth to devise a strategy to overcome its hurdles with amicable solutions, something rich corporations have done in the past. This is a rising horse that requires an equally formidable competitor to bring it down.

December 29, 2014
Xiaomi to Resume Sales of Redmi 1s from December 23rd

Update : The company has updated Redmi Note’s Flipkart page and now the popular phablet is up for registeration. The sale will start at 2PM on 23rd December.

For those who missed out on the opportunity to acquire the Redmi 1s earlier, here is your chance. Hugo Barra, Xiaomi’s VP announced on the Mi India Facebook page that his company will be holding yet another flash sale on December 23rd through their online partner Flipkart.

Last week the Delhi High Court had announced a ban on the sale of Xiaomi devices in India due to patent infringement. However, a day ago the High Court passed an order allowing the company to sell devices powered by Qualcomm chipsets.

Without wasting any time, Xiaomi’s VP Hugo Barra announced through their social media page that Xiaomi will be resuming the sale of the Redmi 1s through Flipkart on December 23rd. He also added in this post that the Redmi Note (4G variant) is not far behind.

After a series of litigations there is finally something to look forward for the Xiaomi fans. Stay updated with iGyaan for details regarding the next flash sale.

December 17, 2014
The Xiaomi Wave: Here’s All You Need to Know About the Xiaomi Ban
It has been a busy last week for Xiaomi. The Delhi High Court has put a halt on Xiaomi’s surging sales in India by passing an ex-parte injunction order. Ericsson India filed a case against Xiaomi for infringement of patents under the IPR Rules, 2007. This adverse order came into light when Xiaomi allegedly refused to reply to Ericsson’s repeated communications. The injunctions subsequently led to a suspension of sales through Flipkart and also a shut down of their Xiaomi India Site.

Xiaomi continues to insist that they have not received any notice but will take all necessary measure to comply with all the rules and regulations.

The Criers: Those Adversely Affected
- Xiaomi
Although Xiaomi does not seem to be panicking, however this suspension would adversely affect their company both strategically and financially. India is among the largest markets for the Xiaomi handsets and this ban would be a big blow for this Chinese company. On the other hand, Xiaomi seem determined to take necessary legal action to lift the ban as soon as possible.
- The Xiaomi Fans
Of course the Xiaomi fans will also immensely disappointed. Xiaomi had entered the Indian markets earlier this year in the month of July with great anticipation and it surpassed all expectation with flying colours. This ban would imply no more devices would be sold till further notice. To add fuel to the fire, this injunction would also imply ban to the much anticipated Xiaomi Mi4 which was set to release in India at the end of this month.

The Smilers : Those who Benefited

Xiaomi, however, has not been the only budget smartphone launched this year . There has been an influx of impressive smartphones in 2014. This interdiction would mean good news for other smartphone manufacturers like OnePlus and Motorola, who can seek a competitive edge in the market. Other domestic companies like Xolo, Asus, Iris who earlier didn’t stand a chance infront of this impressive device now have the opportunity to establish themselves till this case is settled.

What Happens Now ?

Although Xiaomi has ruined plans for many domestic smartphone manufacturers; it is a necessary evil. Xiaomi has forced the domestic manufacturers to also introduce budget smartphones to compete in the market. This healthy competition has led to the growth of the smartphone industry in India.

The bad news for Xiaomi, however, is that court hearings in Delhi are never dependable. Although the ban is till February 5 as of now; however, when Xiaomi will be able to sell it handsets again cannot be said. A similar incident took place with Chinese manufacturer Gionee, who chose to resolve the same out of court. Though this may seem like an ideal situation, however Xiaomi is not a cash rich company and does not have any corporate offices in India.

Although Xiaomi seems adamant to stay; only time will tell whether they will actually survive in this cut throat market.
December 14, 2014
Xiaomi Plans to Set Up Shop in Bangalore to Make India-Specific Phones

After seeing tremendous market potential for itself in the neighboring land, Chinese smartphone maker, Xiaomi is planning an R&D center in India. The company has seen phenomenal opening of its innings in India with its one of kind phones falling short of supply for the massive demand.

The R&D center will primarily focus on customizing the devices for the Indian consumers. The company said that they intend to have a team of engineers, designers and product managers who will build features that are specific to the needs of the Indian population.

The company is still a beginner in the smartphone game by market standards, but it was confident of its audacious product. The company took on the climb and has made it onto the list of the most appreciated products in the market. Its mid-segment priced products are capable of taking on the flagships. The company has made its mark in the markets of Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines and is now planning to wreak havoc in the markets of Indonesia, Thailand, Russia, Turkey, Brazil and Mexico.

Xiaomi claims the specific hardware requirements for Indian market caused the low supply of the Mi3

One of the major reasons cited for the R&D center is the heterogeneous network requirements of India. This country has different hardware and antenna calibrations which require physical calibration in the devices meant for the country. It was this reason that the phones meant for markets of China and Taiwan couldn’t be directed to India thereby leading to a shortage of products.

Apart from this, the company is planning on setting up its own consumer call centre to answer the queries of the consumers. Currently, the consumer support has been outsourced, and even the company runs on a bare minimum workforce in India under Head of Operations, Manu Jain.

This development shows the seriousness of the Indian market, in Xiaomi’s scheme of things. The company plans to prioritize both India and China as just catering to these two markets would be immensely profitable considering the massive population. The company will release its LTE enabled MI4 in India probably by December end. So if you want to have the full Xiaomi experience, there might be a job waiting for you in Xiaomi’s upcoming Banglore facility.

August 27, 2014
Xiaomi Set to Launch its First Phone in India

In the battle field called the Indian mobile phone market, a new entrant will try to lay its claim on the throne. Beijing-based Chinese electronics company Xiaomi will launch a phone on the 11th of July to mark its arrival in the Indian market.

On its Facebook page, the company announced that it had “something special” in store for India which it will unveil on the 11th of this month. The company which is sometimes called the Apple of China will also compete with its compatriots Gionee, Oppo, Lenevo, ZTE, Huawei from China.

The company already has an Indian website which might get operational on the 8th of July. The website currently is hosting a contest for users to guess which phone the company will release in India. The winner will get to own the phone.

Like Alcatel and Motorola, Xiaomi has also said to have signed an agreement with the e-commerce giant Flipkart. As it’s just beginning in India, it might be a good step for Xiaomi to sense the water before diving in.

Launched in 2010 the company has since seen massive growth in China. It is one of the biggest manufactures in China which develops and sells Mobile phones. Along with Phones the company also sells mobile apps, routers and other consumer electronics.

Xiaomi really needs to bring some really distinguishable products to stand out in the market which is as populated as the population of India. Its colored backpaneled devices can also be a hit amongst the colorful Indians.

July 7, 2014