Xiaomi is one of the fastest growing smartphone manufacturers and it has been able to achieve that position without officially launching its smartphones in the United States. The company has focused more on China and other emerging markets instead. It has never denied that it wanted to compete in the United States, though, and amid rising trade tensions between China and the U.S., the company says that it’s pushing ahead with its plan to launch smartphones in the U.S. next year.
Xiaomi Senior Vice President Wang Xiang told Reuters that the market in the United States was “very attractive” and that Xiaomi is adding engineering resources to develop versions of its smartphones that are compatible with U.S. networks.
Wang added that talks with U.S. carriers have yet to result in concrete agreements but he’s hopeful that “Next year we hope we can do something there.” It remains to be seen if Xiaomi is going to have an easier time competing in the United States compared to some other Chinese companies. Huawei is viewed with suspicion in the country and carriers don’t offer its smartphones. ZTE has its own troubles to deal with and it’s on thin ice as it is.
Xiaomi remains hopeful that it will get its shot to try and take a piece of the U.S. smartphone market.