Xiaomi opens up app store to more countries, celebrates 10 billion downloads

There’s no other way to put it: Xiaomi is simply on fire. The company is doing so well in fact, that huge tier 1 competitors like Samsung have taken notice, although vocally expressing the doubt they have in Xiaomi’s business model.

If the sales figures for Xiaomi devices aren’t enough proof of its success (the company beat Samsung in China and occupied the third place in global shipments for smartphones in Q3), then perhaps the launch of Xiaomi’s new international app store, along the celebration of its Chinese app store’s 10 billionth app download are.

Xiaomi announced that its Chinese app store is currently averaging 50 million downloads a day, which is a staggering number for what is in essence a third-party Android store. Back in May, the company launched its Mi Pad tablet, and currently it boasts over 3000 applications and games designed specifically for it.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, the company is also reporting that a total of 364 million RNB (around $60 million) has been paid out to app developers. Xiaomi is now opening an international app store that will allow developers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore to upload their apps and showcase them to a wider audience. This store will probably open up soon to devs and users in more countries, as Xiaomi continues to expand into more markets, including India.

Google’s Play Store isn’t currently available in China, though rumor has it Google might make a return to the country soon. As such, Xiaomi users in the largest market of the world use a variety of app stores, including Xiaomi’s.