Taking a bite out of Apple

IT FEELS more like a rock concert than a press conference as the casually dressed chief executive takes to a darkened stage to unveil his firm’s sleek new smartphone to an adoring crowd. Yet this was not the launch of the new iPhone by Apple on September 10th, but of the Mi-3 handset by Xiaomi, a Chinese firm, in Beijing on September 5th. With its emphasis on snazzy design, glitzy launches and the cult-like fervour it inspires in its users, no wonder Xiaomi is often compared to its giant American rival, both by admirers and by critics who call it a copycat. Xiaomi’s boss, Lei Jun (pictured), even wears jeans and a black shirt, Steve Jobs-style. Is Xiaomi really China’s answer to Apple?

Xiaomi is a very interesting company, which is growing in China. 

Nevertheless, its business model has yet to prove its validity in the home market, therefore threats to Apple are still seen as weak. 

We would like to hear your opinion, so please make sure that at least one person of your group replies to the following questions here on the blog.

Compare Apple and Xiaomi strategies. 

1. How important do you think has the external environment been in pushing the two companies pursue their strategies?

2. Were the decisions taken by Xiaomi at the functional, business or corporate level?

Moreover, it would be nice to see some statistics in class, so it would be nice if each member uses vot.rs to see what the general audience thinks. 

Please go on vot.rs and enter the following codes:

For question 1: 38 96 43

For question 2: 46 34 30