Chinese phone brands dial up efforts to go global
Joey
chinatopwin
2017-03-24 17:39:50
Chinese phone brands dial up efforts to go global
China’s smartphone makers were out in force at the Mobile World Congress in the Spanish
China’s smartphone makers were out in force at the Mobile World Congress in the Spanish
city of Barcelona last week, demonstrating that they are not just fast adopters, but innovators
as well. They hope that cutting-edge technology will take them global.
In the 1970s, electronics from companies in rapidly industrializing Japan flooded Western
In the 1970s, electronics from companies in rapidly industrializing Japan flooded Western
markets. Goods from Sony, Sanyo, Sharp and others first imitated and undercut, then
improved upon and outmuscled products from domestic manufacturers like RCA and GE.
In the 2000s, gadgets from South Korean makers like Samsung, Hyundai and LG repeated
the exercise on their Japanese forerunners: undercut on price, outpace with innovation, profit.
For years, Chinese phone makers served in the shadows as manufacturers for Nokia and
For years, Chinese phone makers served in the shadows as manufacturers for Nokia and
others. Everything changed after Google introduced Android in 2008.
The inexpensive and customizable mobile operating system, an answer to Apple’s
The inexpensive and customizable mobile operating system, an answer to Apple’s
status-quo–shattering iPhone, made it possible for any electronics company with some
savvy to develop a worthy alternative.
In no time, Chinese companies shifted their strategies from churning out white-label devices
In no time, Chinese companies shifted their strategies from churning out white-label devices
for others to building brands for themselves.
Chinese phone makers are now facing a new era in the smartphone market, a Chinese era,
Chinese phone makers are now facing a new era in the smartphone market, a Chinese era,
studded with a new generation of wily entrepreneurs and clever engineers armed with lessons
learned from those that came before.
Yes, some copy Western ideas, sometimes even down to trendy minimalist outfits as nearly
Yes, some copy Western ideas, sometimes even down to trendy minimalist outfits as nearly
everyone in the phone industry wears black onstage in emulation of Steve Jobs. But many are
genuinely innovating as they race to become the next Nokia of the 1990s: affordable, high tech,
global.
Gradually they have won over Chinese consumers. Local names displaced iPhones and Samsung
Gradually they have won over Chinese consumers. Local names displaced iPhones and Samsung
Galaxy devices by market share in 2016, according to International Data Corporation (IDC).
They have done so by going steadily up-scale, employing vast retail networks, and speeding
up packing the bells and whistles.
Seven of the top 10 Chinese patent-appliers in 2016 make smartphones, according to the
Seven of the top 10 Chinese patent-appliers in 2016 make smartphones, according to the
State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO). Of those, OPPO, Huawei and Xiaomi filed close to
12,000 applications or a third of the total, the SIPO data showed.
“In terms of technology and innovation, Chinese players are very close to industry leaders like
“In terms of technology and innovation, Chinese players are very close to industry leaders like
Samsung,” said Kitty Fok, a research director at IDC China. “China’s gigantic mobile Internet
market helped to boost online services, which require hardware with better performance. Many
local players caught the opportunity to shake off the copycat label.”
For instance, the current Chinese market leader, OPPO, made features like rapid charging,
For instance, the current Chinese market leader, OPPO, made features like rapid charging,
low-light photography and 6GB memory standard (the iPhone still lacks quick charging). OPPO is
now focusing its energies on the camera, targeting selfie-obsessive youngsters, as well as amateur
snappers.
In Barcelona, OPPO unveiled what it calls its most advanced mobile photography technology yet.
In Barcelona, OPPO unveiled what it calls its most advanced mobile photography technology yet.
Its “go five times further” tagline at the Mobile World Congress referred to an optical zoom
technique that combines telephoto and wide-angle lenses and a specially designed prism with
software to achieve a 5x zoom effect.
