Chinese Smartphone Upstart That Beat Apple Is Now Venturing West
- Vivo will soon sell gadgets in Russia, Singapore and Taiwan
- Company among a new breed of brands exploring overseas markets
Duan Yongping
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Vivo, the fast-growing smartphone brand backed by reclusive Chinese billionaire Duan Yongping, will begin selling to Western markets for the first time as it accelerates a global expansion.
Emboldened by its success against Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. at home, the company now intends to tackle developed markets with higher-end devices. In coming months, China’s third-largest smartphone brand will market its gadgets, which include the flagship V7+, in Russia, Taiwan and Singapore. The company launched the X20 in Hong Kong Friday and Africa is on the cards for early next year, it said in a statement.