In China, Xiaomi runs a crowdfunding platform where hardware start-ups submit their products and consumers can book them, helping these companies raise funds in the process. While these are not Xiaomi-branded, the products are compatible with Xiaom’s Mi Home app.
“We are open to bringing the programme but we will have to change certain things before we can launch it in India”, Xiaomi Vice President Hugo Barra said.
Xiaomi, which is betting big on the Internet of Things (IoT) space with its Mi Ecosystem, has invested in 55 start-ups that work on connected devices ranging from air purifiers to drones.
Talking about the challenges of bringing the platform to India, Barra cited the example of certifications that electronics products need for selling in the country, which takes anywhere between 3-6 months to get.
“Consumers pay the money in advance and it wouldn’t be fair if they had to wait for such a long time before they get the product delivered. We will have to figure out these challenges before we can bring the programme here”, he said.
Xiaomi launched its air purifier, Mi Air Purifier 2, in India, its first home category product.
He added that the company may launch its smart rice cooker next year in India.
Xiaomi is also launching the new version of its Mi Band 2, priced at Rs 1,999. It features an OLED display, has a battery life of 20 days on a single charge and is IP67 splash-resistant. It has a fitness, sleep and optical heart rate tracker and allows users to unlock their phones and provides call and app alerts. Mi Band 2 will be available on Mi.com from September 27 and on Amazon.in from September 30.
Source: Mint
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