Xiaomi hits back over Apple's 'theft' accusation

BEIJING: Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi today refuted Apple's allegation of stealing iPhone technology, saying one can only judge its products after using them.

Responding to Apple's design head Jony Ive's accusation that Xiaomi has stolen iPhone technology, President Lin Bin said Ive should use a Xiamomi phone to know the difference between the two gadgets.

"Xiaomi is a very open company, which would never force anyone to use its products. However, one can only judge Xiaomi's gadgets after he or she has used them," Lin was quoted as saying by the state-run China News Service today.

"I'm very willing to give a Xiaomi cell phone to him [Jony Ive] as present, and I look forward to hearing his remarks after he uses it," Lin said.

While responding to a question in San Francisco on Thursday about common features between the two phones, Ive said, "I don't see it as flattery. I see it as theft, and it's lazy. I don't think it's ok at all".

Xiaomi surpassed Samsung and Apple to become the biggest smartphone maker in China in the second quarter of this year, according to a report from Canalys.

Lin said the biggest challenge for Xiaomi currently was to increase its productivity.

In the first half of the year, Xiaomi produced 26 million cell phones and is expected to cross a total of over 60 million this year.

"At present, we can produce 6 to 7 million cell phones each month, and we will continuously improve that," Lin said.

Lei Jun, Xiaomi's founder, said yesterday that Xiaomi would not go public in the next five years.