Get Ready To Hear Xiaomi's Name A Lot

Xiaomi, the China-based electronics company, is looking to make its splash in the American market. Up first: its $69 streaming video box called Mi Box that is built on Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL)'s Google Android TV that will be sold mostly through Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT).

Recode spoke with Xiaomi's international chief Hugo Barra in an interview. He said that the streaming video box is the ideal product to "establish a brand presence" in the United States. In the meantime, the company continues to explore when is a good time to introduce its phones to the U.S. market.

Related Link: What's Xiaomi? And Why Should You Care?

Xiaomi's entrance into the U.S. market does come at a time when its market share is declining in its native China, so it could be seen the company is looking to make up lost sales. Competing firms, such as Huawei, Oppo and Vivo have overtaken Xiaomi, which once dominated the Chinese market.

A TV product offers Xiaomi an "easier launchpad" than smartphones, which require carrier testing and government approval. However, when its phones are eventually introduced, Barra thinks it will prove to be "disruptive."

"There is no shortage of people who are very excited about technology and who are price sensitive," Barra said.

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