There is no doubt that China’s growth since it opened its economy sometime in the 70s has been phenomenal. Its leadership in the manufacturing industry – from toys to complex electronic goods – is looked upon with envy as well as looked down because of the way China treats its labor.
After almost 30 years of experience in providing the entire Western world with quality products, it was time for the world to look at China as much more than World’s sweatshop. However, Apple products may be manufactured in China, but they are still designed in California.
Xiaomi is all set to change that perception. In just a few years, it has become a leading smartphone brand in China and toppled Samsung and other smartphone companies. In Little Rice: Smartphones, Xiaomi, and the Chinese Dream, Clay Shirkey looks at what this small startup is doing for the Chinese as they try to shed the image of being the world’s factory – a position India seems to be too eager to take.
Clay Shirkey is a Distinguished Writer in Residence at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and Assistant Arts Professor in the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP). He teaches the interrelated effects of the topology of social networks and technological networks, how our networks shape culture and vice versa. He is also the author of Here Comes Everybody and Cognitive Surplus.
Little Rice: Smartphones, Xiaomi, and the Chinese Dream
Author: Clay Shirkey
Pages: 128 pages
Publisher: Columbia Global Reports (October 13, 2015)
ISBN-10: 0990976327, 978-0990976325
The author takes an in-depth look at how the Chinese society has changed in the last couple of decades. The smartphone, he says, has become a commodity as well as luxury all over the world. However, for the upwardly mobile Chinese and people in other developing nations, the obsession with brands like Apple outstrips that in the US and Europe.
He illustrates this fact when he talks about the shop displays in China where most smartphones are displayed showing the phone screen, whereas Apple products are showcased to show the logo at the back.
Xiaomi gives Chinese the pride of being the originator of a beautiful device. A device thought, designed, developed, and manufactured by a Chinese company in China.
The book also looks at how Xiaomi- mainly a software company – invaded the Smartphone hardware space with developing an alternative interface for the Chinese mobile users. He discusses the core philosophy of the company and the steps Xiaomi took to ensure a loyal band of followers and customers who vouch for the products and for the supportthey provide to the customers.
How has Xiaomi changed the Chinese and will the smartphone company that is poised to lead the smartphone space in the developing countries change China’s image as a copycat producer?