Xiaomi: US Mobile is selling our phones without authorization

Update: Looks like US Mobile has pulled the phones from its online store already. A quick search for Xiaomi and Meizu phones reveals no matching products.

As a new month began yesterday, it seemed Xiaomi may have finally started selling its devices in the States, through US Mobile. The small carrier drew attention to the fact it was the first to start selling Xiaomi phones in the States, despite the fact that the models being offered didn’t support its own LTE bands.

This morning, Xiaomi has released an official statement, saying that US Mobile is selling its devices without authorization. Further more, the company spokesperson stated that it has no plans to launch its products in the US by partnering with a carrier or distributor.

“Recent reports have indicated that Xiaomi products will be available in the U.S.,” Xiaomi spokesperson Kaylene Hong told IBT. “There are no plans to sell smartphones through any authorised distributors in the US. U.S. Mobile is not authorised to sell Xiaomi products in the U.S.”

Xiaomi declined to say whether or not it would seek to block US Mobile’s Xiaomi sales, but the comments will come as a blow to the MVNO. We knew at the time the devices launched on US Mobile that a deal had been struck with a distributor rather than the manufacturer, but having Xiaomi publicly rebuke the deal is something else entirely.

Currently, Xiaomi only sells its smartphones officially in a few Asian countries and South America, most recently it launched in Saudi Arabia. The Chinese manufacturer is expected to launch in the US at some point in the not-too-distant future. However, it’s clear from today’s announcement that when it does, it will do so through its own direct channels, not through third parties.