The year Chinese smartphone players dominated Indian market

There are nearly 650 million mobile phone users in India -- and over 300 million of them have a smartphone. For these users, Chinese players became the first choice this year as they launched devices with compelling features, thus dominating the budget and mid-range price segment in the country.

Chinese vendors captured 49 percent of the Indian mobile phone handset market in the first quarter of 2017 -- with a 180 percent (year-on-year) revenue growth -- threatening to wipe out domestic players from the overall handset segment.

Among the top Chinese brands, Xiaomi witnessed the biggest growth this year.

With a market share of 23.5 per cent and having shipped 9.2 million smartphones in the third quarter this year, Xiaomi became the fastest-growing smartphone brand with a growth rate of nearly 300 per cent (year-on-year) in the third quarter this year.

According to IDC, Samsung had 23.5 per cent market share in India, similar to Xiaomi, the Lenovo-Motorola combine was at 9 per cent, Vivo at 8.5 per cent and OPPO at 7.9 per cent.

For Xiaomi, its Redmi Note 4 device that was launched in January at Rs 9,999 for the base model (2GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage) proved to be a game-changer and its best-selling smartphone too. The company shipped approximately four million units of the device in this quarter, said IDC.

Chinese brands like Huawei (which sells its youth-centric sub-brand Honor in India), Vivo, Motorola (a Lenovo brand) and OPPO's performance remained strong and contributed to more than half of the total smartphone shipments in the country.

Aiming to push its position up in the highly competitive Indian market, Honor launched flagship products at "unbeatable prices", like the highly-successful Honor 8 Pro (Rs 29,999) and Honor 7X (starting at Rs 12,999).

Vivo and OPPO's aggressive marketing spends also paid them hefty dividends. With smartphone growth nearing saturation in metros, Chinese players were also busy building their base in the tier II and III cities.

When it comes to manufacturing in India, Xiaomi announced its third plant in the country based out of Noida and the first facility for power banks in partnership with Hipad Technology.

Spread across 230,000 square feet, the Noida unit is a dedicated facility for Xiaomi power banks where the Mi Power Bank 2i will be assembled. The company already has two smartphone manufacturing plants in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, where more than 95 per cent of its smartphones sold in India are assembled locally.

Meanwhile, South Korean giant Samsung also announced that it would invest Rs 4,915 crore in expanding its Noida manufacturing plant to double the production capacity of both mobile phones and consumer electronics.

The Foreign Investment Promotion Board approved OPPO's request to open single-brand retail stores in the country. With this decision, OPPO became the first smartphone company to get this opportunity in India.

The Chinese players also handled the post-demonetisation ripples well with high decibel marketing, increased credit line to distributors and efficient channel management.

Global vendors, led by Samsung, were able to withstand the aggressive Chinese players post-demonetisation owing to their good distributor coverage and penetration in the Indian market.

Aiming to gain a further foothold in the offline smartphone market, Xiaomi opened its first "Mi Home" store in Bengaluru in May and plans to add 100 such stores in the next two years.

Similarly, Lenovo-owned Motorola opened six "Moto Hubs" in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai and plans to open 50 more by the end of this year.

Huawei's sub-brand Honor announced opening four more exclusive service centres in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Guwahati. Its service centres are already operating in 17 cities.

India this year surpassed the US to become the second-largest smartphone market in the world after China. Yet, according to Counterpoint Research, only one fourth of India's population uses smartphones, thus making the country an attractive destination for Chinese players in the mobile ecosystem.

Source: The year Chinese smartphone players dominated Indian market

Xiaomi launches smartphone for entry-level market

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi officially launched on Wednesday its latest smartphone, the Redmi 5A, a product that targets the entry-level market in Indonesia.

"I believe the launch of the Redmi 5A will change the smartphone industry in Indonesia and encourage phone users to shift to smartphones," Xiaomi South Pacific Region head and Xiaomi Indonesia country manager Steven Shi said in his speech during the launching ceremony.

The five-inch device has various high-quality features such as a larger storage capacity, a 13-megapixel PDAF main camera, a 5-megapixel front camera and long-lasting battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh.

"This smartphone is the best smartphone in its class. Why? Because it's excellent in all aspects -- its technology, design and, of course, the price," said Xiaomi global director of product management and marketing Donovan Sung.

The Redmi 5A will have a selling price of Rp 999,000 (US$69.93), lower than the price in China, which is Rp 1.3 million.

"Our smartphone price in China is normally the cheapest due to marketing costs required in other countries. However, we proudly announce that the Redmi 5A price in Indonesia is the cheapest," said Sung.

The Redmi 5A will be available for purchase on Dec. 27 from e-commerce platform Lazada.co.id. Moreover, the company is also cooperating with Indosat Ooredoo to offer both prepaid and postpaid package bundling. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), Xiaomi holds 6.2 percent of the smartphone market in Indonesia. (fny/bbn)

Source: Xiaomi launches smartphone for entry-level market

China's innovation, not investments, should worry Europe

For several years now China has been increasingly investing in Europe.

In 2016 Chinese companies invested €35 billion in the EU.

Often these investments are in advanced manufacturing sectors or meant to buy certain technologies. Afraid of losing some crown jewels of the European economy, the EU is preparing measures to halt this trend.

But perhaps Europe shouldn´t worry too much about this. After all, the next wave is already coming: Chinese innovation and technology which will conquer the world.

And the first signs are visible. A few week ago, Europe launched two initiatives which are symptomatic and a reaction to the Chinese threat. Europe decided to form an alliance among some top European companies in order to regain lost ground on Chinese electric car battery manufacturers.

And because Chinese high-speed trains and their technology are being sold worldwide, French Alstom and German Siemens have formed a coalition against the Chinese train manufacturing company CRRC, which has recently won several projects in Europe.

Over the past few years China has implemented a policy which focuses on mass entrepreneurship, technology and innovation.

Pivot to private sector

Now the traditional sectors which spurred its economic growth have become weaker - a trend reinforced by increasingly more expensive Chinese labour - the Chinese government hopes that the private sector and innovation will become the new drivers of the economy.

As so many trends in China, big government is the driving force behind this. And that might just work. China has a labour force of 800 million, among whom 170 million have received higher education or possess high professional skills.

Add in the massive number of Chinese students who studied abroad, and return now in increasingly bigger proportion back home, and one can understand that China possesses a critical mass of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.

The effects of this policy are becoming increasingly clear.

In 2016 China's ZTE Corporation overtook its crosstown rival Huawei Technologies as the biggest filer of international patent applications.

Last year Chinese companies spent 14 times more money on R&D than in the year 2000.

Only US companies spend more on R&D. Additionally China is home of a thriving startup scene which plenty of venture capital and hot money pouring in. In 2016 Chinese venture capital funds tripled their budgets to €320bn. They are responsible for 25 percent of the global venture capital investments.

From 'Made in China' to 'Invented in China'?

Especially in the internet sector Chinese innovation is leaving its global mark. Chinese society is already much more digitalised than western counterparts, but nowadays it's simply impossible to live without a smartphone in China.

Last year alone, 467 million smartphones were sold in China, and there are more than 730 million active internet users. The Chinese e-commerce market is simply gigantic and is predicted in 2020 to be bigger than the Unites States, Great Britain, Japan, France and Germany combined.

WeChat, with its 900 million users, is an absolute marvel of Chinese technology.

It is one platform for communication, marketing, payments and e-commerce. All-in-one and made in China.

Chinese tech companies are also conquering the world with new products and services of superior quality. Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent and Xiaomi belong to the top ten of the biggest internet and technology companies worldwide.

But three of them only entered the rankings since 2013.

In 2014 Xiaomi was the world's most valuable tech startup. Silicon Valley is looking now more and more to China where innovation and entrepreneurship go hand-in-hand.

The focus is especially on Shenzhen with its 30,000 technology companies - and a combined value of more than €200bn.

That evolution is also starting to leave its mark internationally. In the past only big (ie state-owned companies) were expanding globally, but now the second wave of internationalisation is taking shape. Buses from BYD, the global leader in electrical cars, are already driving around in the London city centre.

One third of all 'unicorns' are now coming from China.

Ambitious Chinese startups expand internationally from the very beginning, with increasing success.

Besides famous names like Xiaomi, Mobike or DJI, is Musical.ly - with its 100 million users worldwide - one of those startups which go global form the very start, which is way they are being called micro-multinationals.

It's obvious that China is transforming itself again, and that the next wave of innovation and private entrepreneurship will be the wave of the future, with huge global consequences.

Sven Agten is an author on China, and Asia-Pacific president for a German multinational

Source: China's innovation, not investments, should worry Europe

China's Huawei to expand in US smartphone market next year

Chinese smartphone brand Huawei will start sales through U.S. carriers next year, a Huawei executive said Monday, stepping up the No. 3 global handset seller's presence in the home market of rival Apple Inc.

The president of Huawei Technologies Ltd.'s consumer business, Richard Yu, said he would announce details at next month's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. He said sales would start with the flagship Mate 10 but declined to give a price or say through which carrier or carriers they would be sold.

Huawei sells some models in U.S. electronics stores and online but has a minimal share of an American market in which most sales are through carriers. Globally, the company trails Samsung and Apple by handset shipments but leads in China, the biggest market, and says it expects to ship a total of 150 million units this year.

"We will sell our flagship phone, our product, in the U.S. market through carriers next year," said Yu in an interview. "I think that we can bring value to the carriers and to consumers. Better product, better innovation, better user experience."

Yu expressed confidence the smartphone business wouldn't be affected by American government concerns Huawei might be a security threat, which derailed U.S. demand for its network gear.

"In consumer sales, when people really start using Huawei products, they will change their minds," said Yu.

Huawei, founded in 1987 by a former military engineer, is the first Chinese brand to break into the top ranks of global technology suppliers.

The company, headquartered in Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, is the world's biggest supplier of switching equipment used by telephone and internet companies. It has manufactured mobile phones since the 1990s and launched its own smartphone brand in 2010.

Huawei reported 2016 profit of 37 billion yuan ($5.4 billion) on revenue of 521.6 billion yuan ($75.6 billion). The company is owned by its employees, with no publicly traded shares, but reports financial results in an effort to allay security concerns in the United States and Europe.

Helped by a strong position in China, India and other developing markets, sales by its premium-priced Huawei and mid-market Honor smartphone brands have grown faster than those of Samsung or Apple. That prompted suggestions Huawei might pass its American rival.

In the latest quarter, Huawei's handset shipments rose 16.1 percent over a year earlier to 39.1 million, well ahead of Apple's 2.6 percent growth to sales of 46.7 million, according to IDC. Samsung sales expanded 9.5 percent to 83.3 million units.

"We are a Top 3 smartphone supplier but we are very close to the Top 2. So maybe quickly we can be Top 2," said Yu.

The Mate 10, unveiled in October, offers an extra-wide display, high-end cameras and other advanced features at prices 15 to 30 percent below those of Samsung and Apple.

Yu said the Mate 10 will be "competitively priced" in the United States but Huawei expects to compete on performance instead of cost.

"Our strength is in developed markets," where consumers will pay for performance, said Yu. "We are not a cheap, low-cost company."

Also next year, Huawei plans to start selling through carriers in Japan, where its phones already are sold in stores, Yu said.

"I think next year is a very important year for Huawei," he said.

Huawei's U.S. business suffered a setback when a congressional panel recommended in October 2013 that phone carriers avoid doing business with it or a smaller Chinese rival, ZTE Corp. Beijing rejected the report as false and an effort to block Chinese companies from the U.S. market.

Huawei denied being a security threat and rejected the U.S. complaints as politically motivated or possibly an attempt by competitors to keep it out of the market.

"They are lying," said Yu. "We are a company that really cares about cybersecurity and privacy protection. We do a lot better than the other vendors."

———

Huawei Technologies Ltd.: www.huawei.com

Source: China's Huawei to expand in US smartphone market next year

Samsung, LG Pegged to Unveil New Mid-Range Phones at CES 2018

According to a South Korean publication, Samsung and LG will be announcing new smartphones at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (2018) that is scheduled to take place at Las Vegas in early January. Both the companies are rumored to debut new midrange phones at the upcoming CES 2018 event.

Samsung will be reportedly announcing the Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ smartphones at CES 2018 whereas the LG may debut LG K10 smartphone. As of this writing, there is no official confirmation from Samsung and LG on which phones they will be unveiling at CES 2018.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy A8+ (2018) Hands-on Video Appear Before Alleged CES 2018 Launch

The Galaxy A series phones by Samsung and K series smartphone from LG are mid-range devices. The Galaxy A8 and A8+ are rumored to arrive with some traits from the Galaxy S8 and S8+. Hence, the Galaxy A8 duo are expected to feature Infinity Display design with 18:9 aspect ratio and Bixby home button.

The A8 duo will be supporting Split View (multi-window) and Pop-Up View (picture-in-picture) features. These phones are expected to be available for buying in South Korea by mid-January.

On the other hand, the 2018 edition of the LG K10 is unlikely to arrive with a full screen design. Its 5.3-inch display is expected to deliver an aspect ratio of 16:9. The quad-core processor driving the phone will be coupled with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage. It is also expected to include LG Pay and FM Radio.

Samsung and LG will be checking the responses of the consumers for the first time in 2018 through the upcoming CES event. Hence, it is an important place for both companies. Even though the rumor mill has claimed that Samsung will be showcasing the Galaxy S9 and S9+ flagship phones behind closed doors to the investors, the publication has no information on whether the South Korean tech giant will be really doing that at CES 2018.

Other smartphone manufacturers will be using the CES 2018 stage to unveil their new phones. The event will begin on Jan. 9 and will come to an end on Jan. 12.

(source)

Source: Samsung, LG Pegged to Unveil New Mid-Range Phones at CES 2018

China's top smartphone makers are in talks with US wireless carriers

Huawei and Xiaomi, two of China's largest smartphone makers, are looking to take on Apple on its home turf.

Sources familiar with the matter tell Bloomberg the two companies are in talks with wireless carriers in the US with regard to selling their handsets to American consumers in 2018. AT&T and Verizon were mentioned specifically in the report although sources claim the talks are still "fluid" and it's possible that things could fall through entirely.

Data from Strategy Analytics shows that Apple's US smartphone market share sat at 30.4 percent in the third quarter followed closely by Samsung at 25.1 percent and LG at 17.2 percent.

As Bloomberg highlights, Huawei already sells at least one phone (the Mate 9) in the US via e-commerce sites like Amazon. By working directly with wireless carriers to get into retail stores, however, the company would gain exposure to US consumers that might not otherwise be familiar with the brand (the same goes for Xiaomi).

The Chinese smartphone manufacturers have a solid shot at making a dent in the US market. Whereas most new flagships from companies like Apple and Samsung now start around the $1,000 mark, the aforementioned Mate 9 is available on Amazon for under $400 (that's a solid price for a quality phone).

Apple, meanwhile, has struggled in China as of late and given the iPhone X's hefty price tag, things may not improve any time soon.

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Source: China's top smartphone makers are in talks with US wireless carriers

China Has a New Three-Year Plan to Rule AI

Rapid advances in AI have spawned a number of recent initiatives that aim to convince engineers, programmers, and others to prioritize ethical considerations in their work—but almost all of them have originated in rich Western countries. An effort from the huge engineering association IEEE is now trying to change that, with its own AI ethics proposal that it says will be a global, multilingual collaboration.

In the past two years alone, a raft of new efforts to explore ethics in AI have launched, including the Elon Musk–backed nonprofit OpenAI, the corporate alliance Partnership on AI, Carnegie Mellon University's AI ethics research center, and the Ethics & Society research unit at Google's AI subsidiary DeepMind.

But most of these projects are based in the U.S. or U.K., are led by a small group of researchers, and issue updates only in English, which could limit their ability to foster AI that benefits all of humanity, not just those in developed countries.

Since 2016, a group called the IEEE Global Initiative for Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems has been writing a document called "Ethically Aligned Design" that recommends societal and policy guidelines for technologies such as chatbots and home robots. This week, the group unveiled an updated version of the document that integrates feedback from people in East Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and other regions.

Many of those comments came from members the initiative recruited from Brazil, China, Iran, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Russian Federation, and Thailand this year. The group now numbers about 250 people worldwide and continues to grow, according to executive committee chair Raja Chatila.

These international members translated parts of the document into their native languages so it could be circulated widely within their countries, and they submitted reports about the state of AI ethics in their regions to the initiative's executive committee.

To further diversify the viewpoints, the initiative created a "classical ethics" committee to identify non-Western value systems, such as Buddhism, or Confucianism, which could be incorporated into the document's ethical guidelines. The group also solicited feedback from outreach organizations, like AI4All, that teach women and people of color about AI.

It's not yet clear how the initiative will meld these different traditions and viewpoints—the final version won't be published until 2019—but the group has some preliminary ideas. Citing the Buddhist belief that nothing exists in isolation could remind AI designers that they bear responsibility for the systems they create, for example. Similarly, teaching developers about the sub-Saharan philosophical tradition Ubuntu, which emphasizes the value of community, could prompt them to "work closely both with ethicists and the target audience to ascertain whether their needs are identified and met," according to the latest version of the document.

In spite of its earnestness, there's no guarantee the venture will produce results. Like other AI ethics guidelines in the works, "Ethically Aligned Design" just makes recommendations; it has no way of enforcing its suggestions. But growing awareness about the ways AI can discriminate against users if designers don't take diversity into account—and increasing consumer demands for accountability—point to the value of thinking globally when formulating ethical principles for AI.

Source: China Has a New Three-Year Plan to Rule AI

China's Xi to tackle financial risks as corporate debt rises

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to use an annual economic policy meeting to stress the need to prevent a financial crisis, even though tighter regulations could pour cold water on an economy shored up by robust exports and investment.

The Central Economic Work Conference kicks off Monday, according to local media. Xi will lay out key economic policies for 2018 at the closely watched three-day event.

"We could see policies that look ahead to all five years of Xi's second term," an economist said.

Financial risks will likely be a key focus of the conference. Mitigating them was among the first topics discussed when the party's Politburo held a preparatory meeting Dec. 8. Controlling surging corporate debt ratios and steering bank lending more toward the real economy, including manufacturing, are seen as crucial. Beijing also wants to create a framework to prevent real estate bubbles.

A December report by the International Monetary Fund predicted that large Chinese banks will remain on solid ground even with a sudden slowdown in economic growth. But small and midsize banks are a different story. The IMF says those banks could face a combined capital shortfall equivalent to 2.5% of gross domestic product, in large part from losses from wealth management products. The international organization wants to see China cut down on the excessive debt held by companies and financial institutions.

China has taken some steps, such as releasing a draft of sweeping rules on wealth management products last month. But certain banks are already pushing back, warning that moving too quickly to regulate the instruments could restrict banks' cash and actually trigger a crisis. All eyes are on how the leadership will tackle the issue next week.

The conference will also set 2018 targets for GDP, consumer prices and employment. The figures will come out at the National People's Congress in March.

Many expect the economic growth target to remain unchanged at around 6.5%. Some even project a downgrade, given that Xi set no GDP goals for 2020 and beyond at the Communist Party congress in October.

The Chinese economy has lost some steam in the second half. But any slowdown in growth remains slight, thanks to strong exports and investment in fixed assets.

Exports jumped 12% in dollar terms on the year in November, the fastest growth in eight months. Such key products as mobile phones, computers and textiles all saw double-digit increases. This also provided tailwinds to private-sector investment, said to correlate closely with exports.

Investment in infrastructure jumped 20.1% on the year for the January-November period, 0.5 percentage point more than for the first 10 months of the year.

The tally for November alone surged about 24%. In addition to roads, airports and railroads, Xi is pushing for projects to alleviate poverty, such as low-income housing and sewage systems.

Much of the investment has a heavy impact on daily life and will lead to greater consumption, National Bureau of Statistics spokesperson Mao Shengyong told reporters Thursday.

Source: China's Xi to tackle financial risks as corporate debt rises

Reliance 4G JioPhone hit by glitches in China, set to become ‘Made in India’ gadget

Reliance Jio's ultra-affordable smart feature phone 'JioPhone' is all set to become a 'Made in India' device. Reportedly, Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio Infocomm has planned to shift the production of its much-hyped 4G feature phones to India. The step has been taken to overcome the supply related issues at its Chinese vendor's facility, Mint reported. Going by the reports, Ambani has already brought a vendor in Chennai on board to make its flagship phone. However, the name of the vendor hasn't been disclosed as yet. The initial batch of 6 million handsets were produced in China's Jio unit. In the second phase, Jio 4G feature phone demand has spiked to 10 million devices and the manufacturing for the same has already been started in Chennai.

The report further adds that Jio might miss its target of achieving sales of 200 million phones by December 2018. The fulfillment team in China, responsible to get the devices manufactured, has not been able to deliver, the report further adds. Notably, at the time of the launch, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani had announced that the company was "targeting to have 5 million Jio phones available every week" while in July, Ambani had said production of Jio phones in India would start in the last quarter of the year.

The first set of pre-booking for Reliance JioPhone started on August 24 and the window was closed on August 26. As per media reports, as many as six million handsets have been delivered so far. Citing the popularity of the device, other telecom companies too have joined the bandwagon with Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India announcing an affordable smartphone.

Hailed as the cheapest 4G smartphone, Reliance Jio has the traditional keypad design but brings some advanced features like support to VoLTE, advanced OS, and support for JIO apps. The Reliance JioPhone is powered by a 1.2GHz Dual-Core processor coupled with a 512MB of RAM and Mali-400 graphics engine.

Source: Reliance 4G JioPhone hit by glitches in China, set to become 'Made in India' gadget

China's Huawei taps smartphone market in Morocco

RABAT, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tech giant Huawei aims to become the largest smartphone brand in the Moroccan market by 2022, according to Jacky Hong, director of Huawei in Morocco.

In an interview with Moroccan financial news site Medias24.com posted on Tuesday, Hong said the Chinese giant's sales in the country have grown 200 percent in 2017.

Huawei has made 200,000 sales in Morocco and the number is expected to reach 300,000 by the end of the year, Hong noted.

With the launching of its Mate10 series in Morocco, the company targets 70 million sales for the smartphone by September 2018.

Two years after opening its first plant in the north African country, Huawei has expanded its market share to about 10 percent in its aggressive promotional campaign.

Source: China's Huawei taps smartphone market in Morocco

China camera module suppliers gaining ground in smartphone space

China camera module suppliers gaining ground in smartphone space

Sammi Huang, Taipei; Steve Shen, DIGITIMES [Tuesday 12 December 2017]

China-based suppliers of camera modules for smartphones such as O-film Technology and Holitech Technology have continued to expand their market share leveraging packaged module sales and strong support from local smartphone vendors, according to industry sources.

China's camera module makers are currently offering packaged module products, which generally include modules, lenses and touch panels, to smartphone vendors at very competitive prices, said the sources, adding that such a business model has led to a drastic decline in the prices of camera modules and also forced a number of Taiwan-based module suppliers to leave the entry-level to mid-range segment to rely mainly on the high-end one.

The strategy adopted by China-based suppliers has been successful, and O-film, in particular, has managed to enter Apple's iPhone supply chain, indicated the sources.

With the exception in the field of high-end lens market, Taiwan-based suppliers have no longer enjoyed advantages in the camera module industry, the sources asserted.

Taiwan's lens makers including Largan Precision and Genius Electronic Optical are now still able to secure camera lens orders from international and China-based smartphone brands owing to their superior technology levels and product quality.

Based on clients' demand, Genius Electronic has begun shipping high-end 6P (six plastic lens pieces) lens modules for use in rear cameras of smartphones, according to company chairman Jones Chen. Genius Eletronic is also ready to produce 7P and P+G (glass plus plastic) camera lens modules, Chen revealed.

Genius reportedly is also in the iPhone supply chain.

Source: China camera module suppliers gaining ground in smartphone space

Xiaomi launches Redmi 5, Redmi 5 Plus phones in China

Finally, Xiaomi has already revealed the new Redmi 5 and its bigger variant, the Redmi 5 Plus. As if we haven't heard much information about it, these phones are the Chinese OEM's latest offering to the Android community. We've seen numerous leaks and rumors about the two and now the pair is ready to take on China and maybe the rest of the world.

These new Redmi models are marketed as budget phones with a starting price of RMB 799 which is around $120. They may be inexpensive but they already boast flagship specs such as 18:9 display, large pixel cameras, Selfie light, and a 3300mAh/4000mAh battery. The phones are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 and Snapdragon 625 processor. When it comes to imaging, there's the 12MP rear camera with LED flash, and phase detection autofocus plus a 5MP front-facing shooter that can record 1080p videos.

There's a fingerprint sensor at the back panel and the standard sensors (compass, proximity, accelerometer, gyro) and connectivity options such as micro USB 2.0, WiFi, LTE, Bluetooth 4.2, and GPS. Screen sizes are 5.7-inch HD+ and 5.99-inch FHD+. Both phones feature Xiaomi's Beautify 3.0 and 36 smart Beautify profiles.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 costs ¥799 for the 2GB RAM and 16GB storage model and ¥899 for the 3GB RAM and 32GB storage model. The Redmi 5 Plus is priced at ¥999 and ¥1299 for the 3GB RAM with 32GB and 4GB RAM with 64GB models. Color options include Black, Light Blue, Gold, and Rose Gold.

Xiaomi Redmi 5/Redmi 5 Plus Key Specs:

• OS: Android 7.1.2 Nougat• Processor: Qualcomm 450/ Qualcomm 625 SoC• Display:  5.7-inch HD+ / 5.99-inch FHD+, 18:9 display• Dimensions: 151.8 x 72.8 x 7.7mm / 158.5 x 75.5 x 8.1mm• Weight: 157g / 180g• Battery: 3300mAh / 4000mAh• RAM: 2GB and 3GB / 3GB and 4GB• Storage: 16GB and 32GB/32GB and 64GB• Cam: 12MP (rear)• Cam: 5MP (front) with Soft-toned Selfie-light• Others:

SOURCE: MIUI

Source: Xiaomi launches Redmi 5, Redmi 5 Plus phones in China

Samsung Just Revealed Its Flip Smartphone, and It Looks Incredible

Samsung still loves the flip phone. The W2018, unveiled Friday, offers a variety of features in a design that merges a 2000s Motorola Razr-esque device with a modern smartphone.

This latest model marks 10 years for the China-only smartphone line, aimed at raising money for charity. The foldable design hints at the company's future experiments with retro flip phone looks.

GizmoChina reports the W2018 has a metal and glass combination in both gold and platinum color choices. The front has a super AMOLED display measuring 4.2 inches with full HD resolution, covered with Gorilla Glass 5. It has a zinc alloy biaxial hinge that folds out to reveal a second 4.2-inch screen with full HD resolution, alongside a numeric keypad with directional buttons.

Note that this is unlikely to be the rumored "Galaxy X" foldable smartphone. That phone, which is set to offer a fully foldable screen, has appeared in a variety of concepts, one of which has a five-inch screen that opens up into an eight-inch screen. Business Korea said on Friday that the device is expected to launch next year.

View a concept video Samsung released in 2013 of how this works in real life:

But while Samsung's mythical folding phone sounds fascinating, there's plenty of interest with the W2018. It has a Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 256GB of storage depending on preferences, with a microSD slot for expansion. A five-megapixel front camera is paired with a 12-megapixel rear camera with a super-bright f/1.5 aperture. A 2,300 mAh battery charges up via a USB-C port. The device runs Android Nougat 7.1.1, and features a Bixby voice assistant button for easy access to Samsung's feature.

All of these features are likely going to cost a pretty penny. The device comes with a concierge service at airports and other venues, for easy repairs and quick fixes. With the W2017 costing around $3,000, don't expect Samsung's upgraded model to come cheap.

Source: Samsung Just Revealed Its Flip Smartphone, and It Looks Incredible

Xiaomi Redmi 5, Redmi 5 Plus with slim-bezel design, 18:9 display launched in China

Both the smartphones feature a taller 18:9 display with HD+ resolution. The Xiaomi Redmi 5 features a 5.7-inch display and is powered by a Snapdragon 450 Platform, whereas the Redmi 5 Plus comes with a 5.99-inch display and runs on a Snapdragon 625 SoC.

Xiaomi has launched its latest smartphones, the Redmi 5 and the Redmi 5 Plus in China. We already knew that the smartphones will sport an 18:9 display ratio with a bezel-less design. The company claims the new display provides a more immersive media and gaming experience. Other highlights of the smartphones include a metal unibody and a soft-toned selfie light. Both the smartphone will go on sale in China from December 12 but there is no word on an India launch yet.

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 has been launched in 2GB and 3GB RAM variants, while the bigger Redmi 5 Plus comes in 3GB and 4GB memory configurations. The Xiaomi Redmi 5 is priced at CNY 799 (Rs 7,800 approx) for the 2GB RAM/ 16GB ROM model whereas its 3GB RAM/ 32GB storage variant is priced at CNY 899 (Rs 8,800 approx). The 3GB RAM/ 32GB ROM variant of the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus will cost CNY 999 (Rs 9,700 approx), while its 4GB RAM/ 64GB ROM model's price is CNY 1,299 (Rs 12,700 approx). 

Both the Xiaomi Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus are dual SIM smartphones and sport an 18:9 display with HD+ resolution of 720x1440p. The Redmi 5 features a 5.7-inch display and is powered by a Snapdragon 450 Platform whereas the Redmi 5 Plus comes with a 5.99-inch display and runs on a Snapdragon 625 SoC. 

In terms of camera, both the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus sport a 12MP main camera with a 1.25-micron pixel sensor and feature a 5MP front facing camera with a soft-toned selfie flash. The phones boast of improved portrait shots with the pre-loaded Beautify 3.0 app. The internal storage can also be expanded on both the smartphones via a microSD card. The Redmi 5 is backed by a 3300mAh battery, while the Redmi 5 Plus is powered by a 4000mAh battery. Both the smartphones run on MIUI 9 based on Android 7.1 Nougat. 

You can buy Redmi 5A from Flipkart at Rs 4999

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Source: Xiaomi Redmi 5, Redmi 5 Plus with slim-bezel design, 18:9 display launched in China

Redmi 5, Redmi 5 Plus launching in China today, prices leaked ahead of launch

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 and the Redmi 5 Plus are expected to be the company's first mid ranged smartphones to sport 18:9 displays. They will come with rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and a selfie flash.

Xiaomi will be launching the Redmi 5 and the Redmi 5 Plus today in China. The launch event in Beijing will commence at 11:30 AM and will be live streamed on the company's site. Ahead of the launch event, AliExpress has listed the smartphones on its website thus revealing its price. 

Xiaomi's Redmi 5 and the Redmi 5 Plus are the thin-bezel smartphones. According to the AliExpress listing, the former device will be priced at $199.99 (Rs 12,900 approx) for the 2GB RAM/16GB ROM variant whereas the Redmi 5 Plus is listed at $249.99 (Rs 16,120 approx) for the 3GB RAM/32GB storage model. Both the smartphones could be available in Blue, Gold, Black, and Pink colour options. 

Previously, Xiaomi global spokesperson, Donovan Sung shared some official images of the smartphones which revealed the design of the smartphones. Both the smartphones are confirmed to sport reduced bezels and come with a taller 18:9 display. The images also reveal a rear mounted fingerprint sensor on both the smartphones and they will skip on hardware capacitive buttons on the front. The Redmi 5 was recently spotted on the TENAA website which reveaed some of the smartphone's hardware specifications. 

As per the TENNA listing, The Redmi 5 is expected to be powered by a 1.8GHz octa-core Snapdragon 450 SoC. It will come with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and is tipped to sport a 3200mAh battery.  As per the listing, the device could launch in three configurations of 2GB RAM/16GB ROM, 3GB RAM/32GB ROM and 4GB RAM/64GB ROM. The smartphone is expected to support expandable internal storage of up to 128GB via a microSD card.

The Redmi 5 Plus, on the other hand, is rumoured to be powered by a Snapdragon 625 chipset. It was earlier tipped to sport a dual camera setup with dual-LED flash, however, the official images reveal that it will come with a single rear camera setup. Finally, the Redmi 5 Plus is expected to be powered by a 4000mAh battery and could be launched with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. 

Digit NewsDesk  news@digit.in

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Source: Redmi 5, Redmi 5 Plus launching in China today, prices leaked ahead of launch

Chinese smartphones enter Sri Lankan market with Vivo

Leading Chinese smartphone Vivo officially entered the Sri Lankan market at a major launch event held in Colombo.

The entry will see Chinese smartphones competing for a market share which is at present dominated by South Korean and Finnish brands.

China's Vivo announced its official entry to the Sri Lankan market with the introduction of its 24 Megapixel Selfie-Shooter V7 to Sri Lanka.

Vivo, the fast-growing global smartphone brand unveiled its newest member of the Vivo V-Series, the V7 in Colombo.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Song, the Vivo Director for the South Asian region noted that both Sri Lanka and China enjoy deep bilateral relations.

Song said that his company will look to build the Chinese brand in Sri Lanka and give consumers a new experience in smartphones.

Equipped with revolutionary technologies including the 24MP front camera and FullView Display, the V7  is the latest addition to Vivo's selfie-shooter series known for its exceptional photography features, screen quality and the overall product design.

Having recently entered the value-conscious Sri Lankan smartphone market, Vivo continues its growth trajectory globally by adding value to consumer lifestyles through the most innovative next generation devices, offering outstanding, highly-differentiated audio visual experiences to customers.

With its groundbreaking 24MP front camera, the V7 reinforces Vivo's leadership in selfies, producing striking pictures with true-to-life color and contrast that allow users to click the perfect selfie anytime, anywhere.

The V7 is loaded with smart photography algorithms and additional features such as Face Beauty 7.0 to create exceptional quality, natural-looking selfies with brighter complexion, even in dimly lit environments. The V7's Portrait Mode adds background blurring for sharper contrast and visual appeal to generate stunning selfies that can compete with professional photography.

The V7 comes with an 18:9 aspect ratio FullViewTM 5.7-inch display, offering 12.5% more visual display area compared to traditional 16:9 screens, making reading, browsing and navigating easier and more efficient. 83.6 % screen-to-body ratio also makes the V7 great for gaming with an inbuilt Gaming Mode that offers functions such as No Notifications and Floating Call Alerts for an uninterrupted gaming experience.

The V7 is equipped with a 64-bit Qualcomm octa-core CPU and 4GB RAM, ensuring a smooth and seamless user experience. Its Funtouch 3.2 OS is also built with user-friendly features such as Smart Split 3.0, making the V7 highly compatible with today's demanding and fast lifestyle.

In addition to the fingerprint, the V7 offers users the highest level of security with Vivo's Face Access technology, providing an easy and convenient way to unlock your phone.

A thriving global smartphone brand focusing on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops dynamic and stylish products for passionate young people. Vivo makes stylish smartphones with cutting-edge technology accessible to young people and professionals around the world.

Vivo now has close to 200 million users to date and is one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As the exclusive smartphone sponsor of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle.

According to Counterpoint's latest research, Vivo was ranked as the fifth largest smartphone manufacturer globally in Q3 of 2017, with a market share of 7.1%. Vivo recorded the highest year-over-year growth of 32% in global smartphone shipments.

Visit www.vivo.com/en for more information about the brand and new product launches.

Pictures by Easwaran Rutnam

Source: Chinese smartphones enter Sri Lankan market with Vivo

Samsung W2018 launched in China with world’s first F1.5 aperture phone camera

Samsung's latest flip phone, the W2018, has gone official at an event in China today. The W2018, like previous phones in the series, is a flagship offering in the flip phone form factory. It's kind of a mix between the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8, with the Snapdragon 835 SoC, 6GB of RAM, Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and a single 12-megapixel camera at the back.

Samsung W2018 packs a world-first F1.5 aperture phone camera

The rear camera, while a single sensor, is the world's first with an aperture of F1.5. That's lower than the F1.7 sensors Samsung has employed on its mainstream devices and would allow for improved photos in low-light conditions, in addition to a higher degree of bokeh (background blur) effect with a single camera. Samsung has apparently built in a software trick to intelligently vary aperture between F1.5 and F2.4, so the camera won't always be shooting at the widest aperture, or at least that's what seems to be the case here.

The rest of the specs of the W2018 are the same as revealed by earlier leaks. There are two 4.2-inch Full HD displays, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, a USB Type-C port, 64GB of internal storage, and a dedicated Bixby key. TENAA also lists 256GB in the storage section, so it's possible a higher-end variant could be made available. The phone's rather heavy at 247 grams, but that's because of the traditional numeric keypad and the circular navigation keys that make the W2018 what it is: A flagship phone based on a nearly archaic form factor that still has a few fans around the world.

Of course, that doesn't mean Samsung will launch the W2018 outside China. It could be made available in South Korea, but that's pretty much it. Pricing for the W2018 is unknown right now, but we should get the official figure in the next few hours. Rumors say it could be as high as $2,000, which wouldn't be surprising considering the segment of the market it will target. In any case, we'll update this story as and when new information surfaces. Until then, take a look at this hands-on video of the phone to see how it looks in the flesh.

Updated to fix wrong information that said a lower aperture value resulting in higher noise. 

Source
Source: Samsung W2018 launched in China with world's first F1.5 aperture phone camera

Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea

BEIJING (AP) — A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves:

———

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a weekly look at the latest developments in the South China Sea, the location of several territorial conflicts that have raised tensions in the region.

———

NEW CHINESE MILITARY TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT DECLARED SET FOR DEPLOYMENT

Chinese state media say the country's new Shaanxi Yun-9 military transport aircraft has completed trial runs over the South China Sea and is ready to be deployed, expanding China's abilities in "safeguarding maritime rights" in the strategically crucial waterway.

The Global Times newspaper said Sunday that the quadruple turbo prop plane "is now able to undertake combat missions" after conducting its first long-range training missions over the South China Sea. Word of the completion of trials was also announced by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force on Saturday on its official WeChat microblog.

Training included making air drops without assistance from ground controllers and preparing for emergency contingencies in all weather conditions, the Global Times said. That guarantees its ability to deliver supplies to China's island outposts in the sea, many of which have been equipped with radar stations, missile batteries, hardened aircraft shelters and other military infrastructure.

The Yun-9 is a longer version of China's mainstay Yun-8 military transport aircraft, boasting advanced features, the ability to take off and land in a variety of environments, including small islands such as those created by China from coral reefs, and relatively inexpensive production costs.

It can transport up to 20 tons of cargo, vehicles and about 100 troops, as well as serve in a medivac function with a maximum range of 4,200 kilometers (2,610 miles). The Global Times said that among its training missions, it flew from a military airport in the southwestern province of Sichuan, landed on an island in the South China Sea and returned to base the same day.

———

AUSTRALIAN LAWMAKER RESIGNS AMID ACCUSATIONS OF CHINA BUYING INFLUENCE

An Australian lawmaker who made controversial comments about respecting Chinese claims in the South China Sea resigned from his leadership roles in the opposition party over scandals involving a wealthy Chinese businessman and political donor that have raised accusations of China buying influence.

Sen. Sam Dastyari was deputy whip in the center-left Labor Party and chairman of a parliamentary committee examining the future of journalism before resigning Thursday over his dealings with Chinese Communist Party-linked businessman Huang Xiangmo.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten demanded Dastyari's resignation from his leadership roles late Wednesday after media broadcast audio of the senator misleading Chinese journalists last year on the Labor Party's policy on the South China Sea territorial disputes.

Australia maintains that China should respect international law, and an arbitration ruling last year found China's broad claims to the sea were legally baseless. But Dastyari told Chinese reporters at a news conference in Sydney attended by Huang that Australia should observe "several thousand years of history" by respecting Chinese claims over most of the South China Sea. The phrasing echoes China's stance.

Fairfax Media reported that Dastyari gave Huang counter-surveillance advice when they met at the businessman's Sydney mansion in October last year. Dastyari suggested the pair leave their phones inside the house and go outside to speak in case Australian intelligence services were listening, Fairfax reported.

Dastyari has not denied the reports but said he had no knowledge about whether Huang was under Australian surveillance at the time.

Source: Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea

Samsung W2018 launched in China with world’s first F1.5 aperture phone camera

Samsung's latest flip phone, the W2018, has gone official at an event in China today. The W2018, like previous phones in the series, is a flagship offering in the flip phone form factory. It's kind of a mix between the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8, with the Snapdragon 835 SoC, 6GB of RAM, Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and a single 12-megapixel camera at the back.

Samsung W2018 packs a world-first F1.5 aperture phone camera

The rear camera, while a single sensor, is the world's first with an aperture of F1.5. That's lower than the F1.7 sensors Samsung has employed on its mainstream devices and would allow for improved photos in low-light conditions, in addition to a higher degree of bokeh (background blur) effect with a single camera. Samsung has apparently built in a software trick to intelligently vary aperture between F1.5 and F2.4, so the camera won't always be shooting at the widest aperture, or at least that's what seems to be the case here.

The rest of the specs of the W2018 are the same as revealed by earlier leaks. There are two 4.2-inch Full HD displays, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, a USB Type-C port, 64GB of internal storage, and a dedicated Bixby key. TENAA also lists 256GB in the storage section, so it's possible a higher-end variant could be made available. The phone's rather heavy at 247 grams, but that's because of the traditional numeric keypad and the circular navigation keys that make the W2018 what it is: A flagship phone based on a nearly archaic form factor that still has a few fans around the world.

Of course, that doesn't mean Samsung will launch the W2018 outside China. It could be made available in South Korea, but that's pretty much it. Pricing for the W2018 is unknown right now, but we should get the official figure in the next few hours. Rumors say it could be as high as $2,000, which wouldn't be surprising considering the segment of the market it will target. In any case, we'll update this story as and when new information surfaces. Until then, take a look at this hands-on video of the phone to see how it looks in the flesh.

Updated to fix wrong information that said a lower aperture value resulting in higher noise. 

Source
Source: Samsung W2018 launched in China with world's first F1.5 aperture phone camera

China’s Next Potential Boom Spot: The Places People Overlook

In the prefecture that contains Liangduo, Yancheng, locals' wallets are fattening more quickly than the national rate, and their household spending — which surged 8 percent per person in 2016 — outpaced the rises in Beijing and Shanghai.

Signs of that new prosperity can be seen at Auto City, a jumble of ramshackle, boxy buildings in Yancheng where Toyota, Ford and just about every other major brand compete for customers. Zhou Zhengguo, owner of a dealership for the Chinese automaker Geely, expects to sell 2,000 cars this year, four times more than just two years ago.

"Most people who bought cars were private businessmen," Mr. Zhou said. "Now working-class people buy, too."

< p class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="110" data-total-count="2530">Those who live in China's less developed places could be crucial to the next stage of China's development.

Robin Xing, an economist at Morgan Stanley, believes consumer spending in places like Yancheng's urban center will continue to outperform bigger cities. As a result, two-thirds of all additional private consumption growth will come from these less developed areas through 2030.

"We do expect them to catch up, to narrow the income gap with the large cities," Mr. Xing said.

Businesses are looking at such areas in a new light. New highways and high-speed railways make relocating factories and other operations into smaller c ities easier, allowing companies to take advantage of their lower costs. Industrial output in Yancheng expanded more quickly than the national rate last year.

The gains are not limited to the hinterland's main towns. Farms are becoming bigger, more efficient and more lucrative.

Photo Luo Jianhai, a farmer in Xinling village in eastern China, has bolstered his income by expanding his farm. Credit Yuyang Liu for The New York Times Photo Mr. Luo's farm in Xinling. He is typical of a new breed of farmer-entrepreneur in China that is helping to transform the countryside. Credit Yuyang Liu for The New York Times

In Xinling, a nearby village, Luo Jianhai, 37, is typical of a new breed of farmer-entrepreneur. He has steadily expanded the farm where he tills rice and wheat by renting land from his neighbors. He also invested in two new tractors, which he lends out to other farmers who need them to work their own larger plots. Over the past three years his annual income has increased seven times, to $100,000, and his spending has quadrupled, mainly on higher-quality clothing for his three children and a new, $17,000 car from a General Motors joint venture.

His improved lifestyle, Mr. Luo said, "is the difference between being poor and having money."

Nearby, Cheng Zhiguo, 47, also enlarged his farm this year, increasing his net income to about $23,000 — five times greater than just three years ago. His reward: his first car, a Hyundai, bought in August.

Such change is luring urban entrepreneurs such as Zhou Jian. Mr. Zhou, a 33-year-old resident of Nanjing, a major city in eastern China, figured that large-scale farming would also need more money. In 2013, he founded Nongfenqi E-Commerce Company, which helps arrange loans for farming families from banks and other lenders.

Nongfenqi has since arranged about $150 million in loans, opened more than 100 offices spread around rural China and hired 800 employees. "The upgrading of the market allows businesses like us to serve these big farmers," Mr. Zhou said.

Such opportunity has attracted JD.com. Over the past three years, JD.com has more than doubled its army of deliverymen, many aimed at reaching into rural towns and villages.

Continue reading the main story
Source: China's Next Potential Boom Spot: The Places People Overlook