New Delhi: Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Inc said on Thursday it will open 100 stores in India this year to help consumers in the world`s third-largest smartphone market "experience" the company`s devices, but will not sell them at these stores.
Xiaomi, whose low-priced but feature-rich smartphones have made it the biggest smartphone vendor in China, entered India in July and sells its phones primarily through flash sales on online retailer Flipkart.com.
The `service and experience stores` would be set up over 500 to 1,000 square feet and will launch in cities including Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore in the first week of April, Manu Jain, Xiaomi`s India head, told reporters in New Delhi at the launch of the company`s latest budget smartphone.
Though the company started selling its Redmi Note 4G handsets through outlets of the country`s top carrier Bharti Airtel Ltd in January, it is not in "active discussions with any other offline partner", Jain said.
