Microsoft has made no secret of its ambition to bring more OEMs in the Windows Phone fold. It has signed up several low cost OEMs based in emerging markets to push Windows Phone devices in the low end segment of the market. Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi doesn’t sell its devices in many countries but its known globally as a company that sells hundreds of thousands of units in seconds whenever a new device is put up for sale. If local reports are true then perhaps Microsoft might be considering a Xiaomi-made WP device.
Satya Nadella took over as the CEO of Microsoft a few months back and recently went on his first trip to China. Local reports out of the country suggest that he also met with Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun though the meeting was not publicly revealed.
There’s no official version regarding the agenda of this meeting which is why there’s abundant speculation. It is believed that the two may have talked about the possibility of collaborating on a Windows Phone device. Xiaomi’s speciality is to offer impressive specifications at a low price point, it could use this strategy to push Windows Phone devices, which is obviously something that Microsoft would be interested in.
Xiaomi is a force to be reckoned with given that its expanding out of China and into nearby emerging markets. Microsoft would be able to spread Windows Phone to those markets if it got into a partnership with this manufacturer. It all makes sense on paper but obviously both companies have to work out many things before any such project can come to life.
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