Samsung to meet up with Xiaomi

Component partnership in the offing

Xiaomi founder and chief executive Lei Jun is expected to visit Seoul this week to have a meeting with Samsung Electronics executives as part of a cunning plan to get a components partnership deal signed.

The move is a bit of a surprise given that Xiaomi and Samsung are pretty bitter rivals. However, if Samsung can make stuff for Apple after what it did, then it can probably be friends with anyone.

Lei Jun will meet Jeon Young-hyun, president of Samsung’s memory chip business division who oversees chips for smartphones. It is also speculated he will meet Samsung Display executives.

Samsung Display is sitting on the planned organic light-emitting diode display technology which Xiaomi wants for its high range models. Samsung dominates more than 90 percent of the mobile OLED market so in this meeting at least Lei Jun will have to be very diplomatic.

However, teaming up with Xiaomi is in Samsung’s interest as it will be able to move away from its dependence on Apple and even its own brand. Xiaomi will get its paws on technology it has not had, at a lower price if the deal works out.