Chinese Xiaomi Hires One of Google Inc's top android executives

One of Google Inc.'s top Android executives has left the company for a little-known Chinese phone maker, furthering a change in leadership at the company's mobile-software division.

Hugo Barra will help with a new push by Xiaomi—pronounced sheow-mee—to develop its international business and be responsible for its strategic cooperation with Google, Xiaomi said Thursday. Xiaomi, based in Beijing, has grown quickly in the world's largest smartphone market by offering inexpensive Android devices with top hardware specs.

Xiaomi's business model doesn't revolve around the hardware it sells, but rather software, service offerings and accessories.

The company, which uses its website as its primary sales platform, offers an array of accessories as diverse as multicolored batteries, casings, hats and even dolls of Xiaomi's rabbit mascot.

It also now offers a set-top box that streams licensed Internet content for television sets and is integrated with the software the company runs on its phones, which are based on Google's Android operating system.

The hiring of Mr. Barra shows Xiaomi has ambitions to grow beyond China. In April, the company made its first foray into markets outside of the Chinese mainland, selling its phones in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Source: WSJ