Two of the biggest disruptors in the world are coming together to deliver phones in Singapore and Malaysia to buyers within minutes. Uber and Xiaomi have come together to offer what could be the most exciting partnership in some time, an on-demand delivery of the new Mi Note handsets.
Announcing the promotion on Facebook, Xiaomi international chief Hugo Barra said that the partnership is exciting in that it is between “two of the most innovative tech startups in the world”.
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Uber also announced the partnership on its website, saying that:
“Singapore, we know just how long you’ve been waiting to get your hands on the latest Mi Note! So we’ve partnered with Xiaomi so that you can be the first to snap up the smartphone in Singapore”
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The Mi Note will be available to order via Uber in Singapore and Malaysia on 27 July 2015. Xiaomi has been entering new markets with its devices but mostly selling them on their website.
This partnership will allow customer in these markets to buy the Mi Note a day before it officially goes on sale.
The way it will work, as explained by Barra, is that Uber users can order the smartphone from the Uber app and have it delivered to their door step within minutes. Users can swipe to the Xiaomi option at the bottom of the app, where one would choose between the UberX and UberXL.
When the selection is made, users can request orange coloured Uber cars will show on the map and these will be equipped with a new Mi Note, ready for delivery.
The payment for the phone, as with the usual Uber ride, will be charged directly to the credit card that one uses for their Uber account. This all sounds like impusive buying and whether anyone buys a phone like that reamins to be seen. It is though a great idea but one cannot but wonder how many handsets Xiaomi will sell.
The Mi Note costs $569. Uber noted that this partnership will be launched in more cities in the week to follow.
