Xiaomi is, bar none, of the best Chinese device outfits in the market today. Their innovative spectacle includes the beautiful and "bezel-less" MI Mix and the Mi Note 2, which others believe to be a fitting alternative to the defunct Note 7. These devices will undoubtedly create waves when they are made available in western countries, and that's exactly what a Xiaomi top executive is thinking.
Engadget chanced upon Hugo Barra, Xiaomi's Global Vice President who is celebrating his third year with the company after he left his position at Google as Vice President of Production Management for Android in 2013. With Xiaomi entering the likes of, among others, Mexico, Russia, the Middle East and Vietnam, Barra is towing the entire company on his shoulders as he looks to imprint Xiaomi in the United States.
The website, however, was quick to say that US telco networks tend to be "notoriously tough" when it comes to testing phones. Brands like Xiaomi will be newcomers in the field, and they will have to learn the ropes. While other companies are already comfortable with this process, Xiaomi will "practically start from scratch", and that it will pit their devices in a flurry of tests, including those in the "lab and field".
Android Police reported that under Barra's guidance, Xiaomi was able to develop a "special version" of the Mi5 that's made for the sole purpose "for testing in the US". This effort, Barra added, was to "sharpen our chops". Xiaomi also had a specially made Mi Note 2, wherein the VP sees the efforts as "small steps" towards launching a full line of Xiaomi products in the United States.
"We're not going to launch something until we're ready," said Barra. For now, Xiaomi will have to "cooperate" with major US carriers and to carefully assess the usage of Band 17, a band used by AT&T in their LTE network. If all goes well, Uncle Sam would see Xiaomi in several shelves in a year or two.
