Xiaomi Takes the No. 2 Spot in Global Smartphone Market for The First Time

Tweet

Beijing, CHINA, July 16, 2021 – Canalys, the leading global market research firm, launched its Q2 global smartphone market report in which Xiaomi took second place with a 17% share and an 83% YoY growth, surpassing Apple.

Canalys expressed that Xiaomi is now transforming its business model from challenger to incumbent, with initiatives such as channel partner consolidation and more careful management in the open market. Canalys commented that Xiaomi's new goal is to displace Samsung to become the world’s largest vendor.

In a letter to all employees, Lei Jun, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Xiaomi, pointed out that becoming the World's No. 2 is a key milestone in Xiaomi's history. After five years of self-improvement under extremely difficult conditions, Xiaomi's product capabilities have been enhanced significantly - they paved the way for the premium market segment and increased its market share. Xiaomi will continuously strengthen its core capabilities and cement its place as the second largest smartphone brand.

In Q4 2020, the global shipments of Xiaomi reached 43.4 million units with 31.5% YoY growth, surpassing Apple for the first time and returning to the third place. In Q1 2021, Apple rose to No.2 with 15% of global smartphone market share, followed closely by Xiaomi with its 14% of market share. Xiaomi's global smartphone shipments were 49.4 million units back then with 69.1% YoY growth.

Since Xiaomi launched its first premium flagship Mi 10 series, it has been continuously innovating in critical areas, such as imaging, display, charging, smart manufacturing and more. Xiaomi is invested in achieving breakthrough in premium market, bringing cutting-edge leading technology to consumers, and helping to shape the direction of the industry.

Xiaomi has been the first to bring numerous industry-leading technologies to market. In camera technology, the company introduced the 108-megapixel camera, the GN2 camera sensor and an innovative liquid lens. In display, it has been pioneering the technology research of the third-generation under-display camera. Xiaomi has also led in battery charging, realizing 200W wired charging and 120W wireless charging for the very first time. In addition, it was the first to introduce graphene-based lithium-ion batteries and second-generation silicon oxygen batteries. Xiaomi is also a pioneer in mobile phone ceramics, leading the trend of industry exploration.

In addition, the first phase of Xiaomi's smart factory has started operation. Its production lines are automated and capable of manufacturing a million high-end smartphones per year, it is also a huge lab facility which enables Xiaomi to research new materials and technologies as well as test advanced manufacturing and production processes.

Innovation is part of Xiaomi's culture and the company invests considerably in R&D and recruiting the very best talent. Xiaomi has invested nearly RMB10 billion in R&D in 2020, this year the number is expected to increase by 30-40%. At the beginning of 2021, Xiaomi announced the biggest engineer recruitment drive in its history: 5,000 engineers in one single year, which will occupy 20% of total employees. Meanwhile, Xiaomi has launched multiple talent incentive initiatives such as one million US dollars award project for technology talents, young engineers incentive plan, etc. Nearly 700 young engineers of Xiaomi were granted 16 million shares, following the incentive plan just in the month of July.

Xiaomi's global expansion as well as the transformation in new retail channels have been an important driving force in helping the company become the second largest smartphone manufacturer. According to the latest global smartphone data of Canalys, Xiaomi is expanding fast in overseas markets, reaching over 300% YoY growth in Latin America market, over 150% YoY growth in Africa and over 50% YoY growth in Western Europe. According to the Q1 2021 Results Announcement of Xiaomi, Xiaomi smartphones have entered over 100 markets worldwide, ranked No. 1 in terms of smartphone market share across 12 markets and ranked No.2 in Europe. It is also No. 1 in India for years.

About Xiaomi Corporation

Xiaomi Corporation was founded in April 2010 and listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on July 9, 2018 (1810.HK). Xiaomi is an internet company with smartphones and smart hardware connected by an Internet of Things (IoT) platform at its core.

With an equal emphasis on innovation and quality, Xiaomi continuously pursues high-quality user experience and operational efficiency. The company relentlessly builds amazing products with honest prices to let everyone in the world enjoy a better life through innovative technology.

As of the second quarter of 2021, Xiaomi is the no.2 smartphone brand in the global smartphone market. The company has also established the world's leading consumer AIoT (AI+IoT) platform, with 351.1 million smart devices connected to its platform, excluding smartphones and laptops. Xiaomi products are present in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. In August 2020, the company made the Fortune Global 500 list for the second time, ranking 422nd, up 46 places compared to 2019. It also ranked 7th among internet companies.

Xiaomi is a constituent of the Hang Seng Index, Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, Hang Seng TECH Index and Hang Seng China 50 Index.

For more information about Xiaomi as a company, please visit https://blog.mi.com/en/

Danone Specialized Nutrition inspires healthier nutrition choices with its first regional campaign on Shopee

Tweet

Shoppers can learn to make smarter choices for their health and discover the full benefits of Danone’s Specialized Nutrition (SN) portfolio for everyone in the family

MANILA (PHILIPPINES), July 16, 2021 – Danone, a leading multi-local food and beverage company building on health-focused and fast-growing categories, and Shopee, a leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launches the first Regional Brand Day, ‘Our Health, My Choice’ on Shopee Mall to provide consumers in the region access to Danone’s full Specialized Nutrition (SN) portfolio for the whole family. The SN portfolio includes core milk products for children and convenient cereal bars for pregnant women and lactating mothers, and adult nutrition for healthy aging. With more people going online to shop for health products, the collaboration aims to support more families to make informed nutrition choices and discover products that support their health and nutrition needs.

In line with its mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, Danone ensures that its product portfolio provides the right nutrition across age groups with scientifically proven nutrients. In the Philippines, malnutrition remains one of the leading causes of child deaths. According to a UNICEF report in 2014, 95 Filipino children die from malnutrition every day while 27 out of 1,000 children do not get past their fifth birthday. A third of Filipino children are stunted, or too short for their age—causing them to fail to grow and develop to full potential. A 2019 study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) stated that the current chronic malnutrition rate among Filipino children aged 0 to 2 is now at 26.2 percent, the highest in 10 years.

Deborah Chong, Head of E-commerce, Danone Specialized Nutrition Global, said, “We have witnessed incredible growth of our business online, including a 20 times growth across Southeast Asia during the Shopee 12.12 Birthday Sale last year. With more people turning to e-commerce platforms like Shopee to seek convenient and reliable product options, we believe this collaboration will further scale our presence in the region. Prioritizing consumers’ health is crucial for us and we believe this Regional Brand Day which focuses on our “Our Health, My Choice” theme, lets us show our care and appreciation for our customers by providing convenient access to products that support their health and nutrition needs.”

Maxime Lafarge, Country Manager, Danone Nutricia Philippines, added, “Danone is proud to partner with Shopee to fulfill our mission of making good nutritional choices accessible for more health-conscious consumers. We believe that our portfolio can cater to the specific nutrition needs of all consumers and encourage the consumption of essential macro and micronutrients for a well-balanced, healthy diet. That’s why we are very excited to leverage Shopee's wide reach and customer engagement tools such as Brand Membership to better connect with customers and provide them greater value all year round. They can also enjoy savings and rewards by signing up for the free membership on our official stores.”

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, shared, “With a 2.5 times growth in viewership compared to last year, live streaming is becoming a key part of the online shopping experience in our region. It has also grown to become an effective way for brands to acquire and connect with shoppers, showcase their products and prompt users to make purchases on the spot. We're excited to see more brands such as Danone enrich the shopping experience by integrating entertainment and educational content into their campaigns.”

On 23 July, shoppers can look forward to a host of exclusive deals on Shopee Mall, including:

• Attractive Gifts with Purchase: Be eligible to choose from a selection of gifts suitable for different users:         

              - Lucky draw for a WISEMOM USB Portable UV Sterilizer with a minimum purchase of                         ₱2,000 on Aptakid 4 & Aptamom prenatal cereal bars

              -Free Blanqi Everyday Maternity Belly Support Girlshort with a minimum purchase of ₱3,500                 while stocks last

• Special bundles/deals for more savings: Enjoy up to to 40% off on our Aptakid 4 and Aptamom bundles

• Earn loyalty points with Brand Membership: Sign up for Nutricia’s Brand Membership Program and receive an Aptamom Sample (2 bars) as a welcome gift. In the program, receive points for every purchase (₱5 = 1 point) and get access to exclusive gifts & vouchers depending on your membership level.

For more information about the Nutricia Mall Takeover, please visit https://shopee.ph/nutriciaphilippines.

Download the Shopee app for free on the App Store or Google Play Store.

Create Next-Level Social Media Contents with Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

Tweet

Social media has evolved over the years. From merely being used for networking and messaging, it has now advanced into a platform where people can share their talents, build and promote their businesses, stay updated on current events, and talk about the things they love. Mobile devices need to be able to keep up with the modern and fast-paced lifestyle of today’s users so they can express who they really are.

Versatile, compact, and stylish, the Galaxy Z Flip is made for those who are not afraid to express themselves and want to stand out. Built to inspire creativity, the device packs everything needed to create and share into a form factor that fits in the palm.

Spark and Flex Creativity

The Galaxy Z Flip’s unique form factor is designed to provide hands-free experiences, making it easy to create and curate content everywhere.

Thanks to its Hideaway Hinge, the device can stand on its own at various angles. Simply pop open the device, place it on a desk or the floor, and start filming without needing extra accessories or stands. This means more time to accessorize, snap photos, and shoot content without ever holding your phone. 

With Flex Mode, snap hands-free selfies for social media feeds or capture steady, stunning Night Hyperlapse videos with just the Galaxy Z Flip. The feature also allows the setting up of live streams to connect with followers or instantly collaborate with other creators via video call.

Capture the World Differently

From spontaneous selfies to hilarious GIFs of funny moments, the Galaxy Z Flip gives new ways to capture experiences.

The Quick Selfie feature uses the device’s powerful rear cameras to create high-quality self-portraits. Double click the power button when the phone is folded and the cover display will transform into a selfie viewfinder. Click the volume button to capture a shot. If taking a groupie with friends, tap on the cover display to switch to the Ultra Wide lens.

With so many ways to create photos and videos, it can sometimes be difficult to decide which one to go for at the moment.

Single Take on the Galaxy Z Flip is a dream tool for digital creators. The feature is especially useful for shooting action-packed scenes.

Just hold down the shutter button and the camera will capture the moment in a wide range of formats. The feature even recommends the best shots, which means scrolling through the gallery to find the perfect post isn’t needed.

Elevate Content

Taking photos and videos is just the start of the creative process. The key to engaging content lies in photo or video editing and caption writing.

Equipped with quick and easy image editing tools, the Galaxy Z Flip is a mobile creative powerhouse. As soon as capturing is done, creators can start polishing the image, try out different filters, and post their content with the device.

The Multi-Active Window feature allows two apps running simultaneously on the main display. With the ability to edit photos on the top half of the display while writing captions or responding to comments on the bottom half, multitask and manage platforms on the go with ease.

Fashion Meets Technology

Featuring a bold and playful design, the Galaxy Z Flip is perfect for those who see technology as a way to express themselves and be a cut above the rest. Available in various luxurious colorways Mirror Purple and Mirror Black, the device will turn heads and bring individuality to your outfit.

The Galaxy Z Flip is at Php 50,990 SRP. For more information about Samsung’s foldable devices and available offers, visit samsung.com/ph.

Safe Samsung Shopping

Health and safety protocols are strictly followed in Samsung Experience Stores to keep consumers and employees safe. Adhering to the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Samsung has limited the number of its customers to 50% capacity, implemented the mandatory use of face masks and face shields, and performs frequent sanitation in all stores. 

Samsung Experience Stores also has unique QR health declaration codes to promote a safe and contactless contact tracing process. Product demonstrations are done side-by-side instead of face-to-face while keeping the required safe distance of one (1) meter to make sure everyone is socially distanced.  

To find the nearest Samsung Experience Store, visit samsung.com/ph/samsung-experience-store/locations.

Get Closer with Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin this July via Smart Hallyu Hangouts

Tweet

Here's how you can virtually meet Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin this via Smart Hallyu Hangouts

Leading mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. is bringing Filipino fans closer to their favorite Korean superstars through Smart Hallyu Hangouts, a series of online shows where subscribers can watch their idols.

Smart Hallyu Hangouts pilots on July 16 with multi-awarded Korean actress and Smart Signature endorser Son Ye Jin while Hyun Bin takes on the Smart Hallyu Hangouts stage on July 31.

It’s the closest thing fans can get to a physical fan meet during the pandemic, where they get a chance to virtually watch Son Ye Jin through a live feed from South Korea.

“I may not be able to meet you all in person, but I’m thankful for this opportunity through virtually. I wish we can all meet with a smile soon, so until then, please stay safe and healthy,” said Son Ye Jin in a previous video message.

“As we continue to bring our subscribers closer to their passions through simple and easy ways using our fast and reliable network, we are launching the Smart Hallyu Hangouts series with Son Ye Jin in the first virtual show to give fans the best experience despite the limitations of the pandemic. We prepared a very special episode for you guys so hope to see you all there,” said Jane J. Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart.

It will be recalled that Smart made the inevitable a reality when Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin teamed up for a commercial film back in February. The project marked the first time the two superstars were seen together since the massive success of Crash Landing On You.

How to watch Smart Hallyu Hangouts

For both Smart Hallyu Hangouts episodes, Smart Prepaid, Smart Bro Prepaid, and Prepaid Home WiFi customers who register via the link on the microsite and redeem any Giga reward using GigaPoints are eligible to join the promo.

For Smart Signature subscribers at Plan S (999) and up and Smart Bro Postpaid subscribers, a registration link will be available on July 6, 2021. You may register for the raffle promo from July 6-8, 2021.

For the complete details on how to score tickets to these events, you may visit this link: https://smart.com.ph/Pages/smart-hallyu-hangouts.

Powered by the country’s fastest mobile data network

Smart Hallyu Hangouts is powered by Smart, the country’s mobile data network as reported by third-party mobile internet analytics firm Ookla® and Opensignal.

Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, named Smart as the country’s fastest mobile data network in the second half of 2020 after it achieved a Speed Score™ of 24.99, with average speeds of 20.08 Mbps for download, and 7.42 Mbps for upload, based on 3,915,679 user-initiated tests taken with Speedtest®. Ookla has also cited Smart as the country’s fastest mobile data network for three years in a row now.

Smart has also scored a rare sweep in the April 2021 Philippines Mobile Network Experience Awards* by independent analytics firm Opensignal, beating the competition across all metrics in three essential aspects of service: Coverage (4G Coverage Experience, 4G Availability), Speed (Download and Upload Speed) and Experience (Games, Video and Voice app). This is the first time an operator in the Philippines won decisively in all categories.

Smart also enables subscribers to level up their digital experience with Smart 5G’s super-fast speeds and ultra-low latency powered by the country’s most extensive 5G network with over 3,000 sites.

500 PGH frontliners for COVID-19 given essential aid, connectivity by Globe and the Ayala Group of Companies

Tweet

Globe shows appreciation for healthcare workers who remain at the forefront of the country’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic through additional cash, connectivity, and in-kind donations to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

PGH was appointed by the Department of Health (DOH) as an exclusive COVID-19 hospital and remains the largest referral hospital in the country. Since the global health crisis broke out in 2020, Globe has donated P22 million to PGH to equip frontliners with much-needed essentials such as personal protective equipment (PPE) to handle COVID-19 patients.

As a part of the continued support to PGH, the #BrigadangAyala initiative led by Globe celebrates the frontliners in three Metro Manila designated COVID-19 hospitals, including the National Children’s Hospital and Tondo Medical Center.

With this, the company provided 50 MyFi devices to medical frontliners who are staying in PGH dorms or have living arrangements away from their families to lessen risks of exposure.

“We truly appreciate this support for our frontliners who continue to make sacrifices for the benefit of our kababayans. Though the hospital is equipped with WiFi, providing connectivity directly to the frontliners will allow them to stay connected even when off duty,” said Dr. Telesforo Gana, Jr., President, PGH Medical Foundation, Inc.

Generika Drugstore, an AC Health company and the pioneer in retail generic medicines in the Philippines, provided 500 immunity booster packages of Actimed Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Actimed Paracetamol and Actimed throat lozenges for PGH frontliners.

"We at Generika recognize and appreciate the valiant efforts of our frontliners in their continuous service at the forefront of our battle against this pandemic. As we find ways to continue to provide Filipinos access to quality affordable medicines in these challenging times, we are honored to be part of this effort to provide them added care and protection," said Atty. Yet Abarca, President and CEO, Generika Drugstore.

In addition, Globe’s parent firm Ayala Corporation, through Ayala Foundation, is donating P500,000 to the PGH Medical Foundation, Inc., while the telco pursues fundraising efforts through Globe Rewards and GCash. Globe has also given an entertainment package consisting of three smart TVs and Home Prepaid WiFi to the hospital’s Cancer Pediatric wards.

“As the country gradually adapts to the changing landscape of our day-to-day reality, we need to show our frontliners that their service is valued. Through connectivity support, we hope to extend to them our gratitude for the work that they do,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.

#BrigadangAyala is yet another manifestation of the strong partnership of PGH and Globe through the years, starting with the rehabilitation of the hospital's Hematology-Oncology clinic back in 2016.

Globe further ramped up its fundraising activities after a fire hit sections of PGH last May 15 that displaced disadvantaged patients.

Globe customers may easily help by donating their Rewards points through the Globe Rewards app. Each Reward point is equivalent to P1. Download the Globe Rewards app and click on the Let’s Help PGH banner. Select the corresponding denomination then press REDEEM NOW. A confirmation message will be sent by 4438 upon successful donation.

Customers may also help via GCash’s Pay Bills option. Just tap Others and select #FightCOVID19.

Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly UN SDG No. 3 on good health and well-being and UN SDG No. 9, which highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. Globe is committed to upholding the United Nations Global Compact principles and contributing to 10 UN SDGs.

To know more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.