Bottom line: Google's purchase of HTC's Pixel assets is a sign of no confidence in HTC's chances of longer-term survival as an independent smartphone maker.

Google's HTC purchase: reason for optimism or pessimism

Everyone is giving their two cents about the big new tie-up between Taiwan smartphone maker HTC (Taipei: 2498) and Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), so I figured I'd weigh in as well on this deal that has quite a few threads. From where I sit, the deal marks the latest dis...

Bottom line: The rumored departure of LeEco's mobile chief is likely to be followed by the official closure of its smartphone division and sale of its Coolpad stake by the end of October.

LeEco mobile head reportedly resigns

As we approach the first anniversary of the crisis that has seen the rapid demise of LeEco (Shenzhen: 300104), the latest headlines are hinting at the imminent unraveling of the former video superstar's smartphone business. The headlines I'm referring...

Bottom line: Smartisan's new funding and plans to produce 5-6 smartphones a year look like an anomaly in the highly competitive market, and it's unlikely to survive as a standalone entity over the next 5 years.

Smartisan gets new funding

I was a bit surprised to read that a clear second-tier smartphone player, the uppity Smartisan, has received 100 million yuan ($147 million) in new funding, as we begin the latest week of summer. I haven't seen this company's name or man...

Bottom line: Xiaomi's rising market share and securing of $1 billion in new financing underscore its nascent turnaround may have some legs, even as its position remains tenuous in the cutthroat market.

Xiaomi unveils latest phone

Former smartphone sensation Xiaomi is in several headlines as we head into the close of the week, all of which seem to underscore that its nascent rebound may have some legs. But as anyone in the industry will tell you, any smartphone maker is re...

Bottom line: A mass protest against Oppo in India over a Chinese manager's desecration of the national flag won't impact the company beyond a week or two, and reflects cultural sensitivity issues Chinese firms will face as they expand abroad.

Oppo under fire in India

Smartphone high-flyer Oppo is quickly learning the road to India isn't always so smooth, with word of a mass protest at the company's local operation due to a controversy involving desecration of the Indian ...

Bottom line: Oppo's major new cricket sponsorship deal shows its commitment to India, but may have to be renegotiated if and when the company's fortunes decline in the next 1-2 years following its meteoric rise.

Oppo in India cricket deal

Smartphone high-flyer Oppo is trying to show the world it's serious about India, with word it will pay 1.1 billion yuan ($160 million) for rights to sponsor the nation's national cricket team. News of the deal comes just three months af...

UPDATE: After publishing this earlier this morning, a source in Barcelona informs me that Oppo is indeed attending and is holding a press event to show off their newest products. Headline and photo caption changed to reflect Oppo's attendance, but the rest of the original post remains the same.

Bottom line: The absence of Oppo and Vivo from the world's top telecoms trade show in Spain this week reflects their overwhelming reliance on China sales, while Xiaomi's absence from the show could be ...

Bottom line: Lenovo could reverse its smartphone decline this year under a new leadership team anchored by a respected company veteran, though chances of success are relatively low due to stiff competition and magnitude of the task.

Lenovo nets former Samsung smartphone exec

My first post in the new lunar Year of the Rooster seems like a good time to look at the ultra-competitive smartphone market, and what may lie ahead for the embattled Lenovo (HKEx: 992) as it seeks t...

Bottom line: The departure of former Google executive Hugo Barra from Xiaomi marks the end of a chapter for the smartphone maker, which stands only a 50-50 chance of surviving over the next 5 years in the cutthroat market.

Xiaomi's Barra heads back to US

The world was all abuzz in 2013 when Hugo Barra suddenly gave up his cozy position as a high executive at Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) to join a then-little-known Chinese smartphone maker called Xiaomi. Gossip swirled that his ...

Bottom line: Xiaomi could return to growth mode in China this year on the strength of stronger models, while Huawei's local market share will contract as it focuses on profitable sales and backs away from money-losing businesses.

Huawei meets reduced smartphone target

Two of China's former smartphone leaders are in the headlines going into the weekend, casting a spotlight on the difficulties these past high-flyers face after becoming king of the world's biggest market. In...

Bottom line: Chinese smartphone brands with local production are most likely to survive upcoming price wars they are exporting to India, while Nokia's new smartphones are unlikely to make any inroads in China over the next 2-3 years. 

China exports smartphone price wars to India

A case of deja vu is rapidly shaping up in India, where Chinese smartphone makers have flocked over the last two years in search of growth outside their overheated home market. In this case media ...

Bottom line: Huawei's revenue growth for 2017 is likely to drop by more than half from 2016's rate of 32 percent as it cuts its money-losing businesses, with the biggest slowdown likely to come in its smartphone unit.

Huawei to focus on profitability in 2017

Quality over quantity is a growing theme in China these days, as the nation puts aside its previous pursuit of high growth at any cost in exchange for more sustainable expansion in high-quality areas. After starting a...

Bottom line: ZTE's move into smart cars and Gome's into smartphones follow a typical Chinese pattern of herd mentality investing, and are both likely to fare poorly. 

ZTE buys car maker Granton

A couple of headlines are shining a spotlight on the herd mentality you often see among Chinese companies looking for the next big growth opportunity. One of those has telecoms stalwart ZTE (HKEx: 763; Shenzhen: 000063) buying a small bus maker, parroting a trend among a growing n...

Bottom line: Qihoo's latest smartphones foray with its purchase of the obscure Blephone reflects the tenacity of founder Zhou Hongyi, but will quickly end in failure due to a late arrival and intense competition in the space.

Qihoo dives back into smartphones with Blephone

Security software maker Qihoo 360 just  doesn't change its mind when opinionated CEO Zhou Hongyi sets his sights on something. After a somewhat disastrous beginning to Zhou's foray into smartphones over...