To show its confidence in the Chinese market, Cupertino-based Apple just opened two stores in China and will open three more in January. The positive outlook stems from the tech giant going against the trend in 2015 and shipping 23.4 million smartphones in Q3 2015 despite the weak global smartphone market.
Competitor Xiaomi shipped 70 million phones for the entire 2015, below its 80-million target. The figures provided on Friday by Li Bin, co-founder and president of Xiaomi, confirms contraction of the global smartphone market since the 80-million target was already reduced from the first estimate of 100 million units, reports CNBC.
To meet consumer demand for iPhones, iPads, Macs and other Apple devices and software, Apple opened an outlet on Thursday in Xiamen, a coastal city. It is the first Apple store in Fujian Province and the 26th outlet of the company in mainland China, reports Chinadaily.
Explaining why it chose Xiamen, Apple Retail Director Todd Mckean points out that the city is a major and leading tourist destination in China. He adds that as the second-largest market for Apple, China is important to the company and the firm's China stores are its busiest outlets globally.
Before Xiamen, Apple opened an outlet on Jan. 9 in Shenyang, a northeastern city. On Saturday, another Apple store will open in Nanjing, an eastern city and by the end of January, two more would open in Guangzhou and Qingdao. The five are part of the 40 stores that Apple plans to open in the mainland this year.