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Xiaomi to offer Mi Mobile plans in China

TAIPEI — Xiaomi Corp is getting into the wireless carrier business as the Chinese device maker tries to capitalise on reforms affecting government-owned companies.

Lei Jun, chairman of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, holds up the latest models of the Xiaomi Note at a press event in Beijing, Jan 15, 2015. Photo: AP

Lei Jun, chairman of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, holds up the latest models of the Xiaomi Note at a press event in Beijing, Jan 15, 2015. Photo: AP

TAIPEI — Xiaomi Corp is getting into the wireless carrier business as the Chinese device maker tries to capitalise on reforms affecting government-owned companies.

Consumers will be able to order a SIM card via Xiaomi’s website starting tomorrow (Sept 23), the Beijing-based company said. Users will pay per minute of talk time, per text message sent, or per megabyte of data transmitted across a network operated by China Unicom (Hong Kong).

Xiaomi’s entry into phone services, dubbed Mi Mobile, comes as China’s government opens up the telecommunications sector to Mobile Virtual Network Operators, who lease capacity from established network owners. Founder Lei Jun is moving the start-up, valued at US$45 billion (S$63.8 billion) after a funding round last year, into online finance, smart-home devices and air filters.

In addition to the pay-as-you-go plan, Xiaomi next month will offer a package of 59 yuan per month for 3 gigabytes of data usage through China Telecom Corp.’s network, it said.

Xiaom released a new smartphone, the Mi 4c, with a 5-inch screen, Qualcomm Inc Snapdragon 808 processor and 13-megapixel camera for 1,299 yuan yesterday. It also announced a new Bluetooth-enabled speaker for 199 yuan. BLOOMBERG

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