Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi has reportedly delisted its music streaming app, Mi Music, from the Google Play Store in India, as the company continues its app shutdown spree. The development was first reported by Techcrunch. Attempts to access the Mi Music webpage on the Play Store yielded no results, redirecting users to a site displaying the message ‘We’re sorry, the requested URL not found on this server.’
App Statistics and Xiaomi Marketplace
On June 2, 2023, an archived download page showed Mi Music had 1 billion+ downloads and 2.33 million reviews. GetApps still lists it.
Mi Music’s Launch and Features
Launched in 2018 by Xiaomi, Mi Music allowed users to stream music directly on their phones. The service was a result of Xiaomi’s partnership with homegrown entertainment company Hungama, in which the smartphone maker had invested back in 2016. The app came pre-installed on Xiaomi phones and offered music in more than 15 vernacular languages.
Mi Music’s Fate Amid App Shutdowns
Mi Music appears to be the latest victim of a series of app shutdowns by Xiaomi in India over the past year. In October, Xiaomi removed its digital payment app Mi Pay and digital lending app Mi Credit from the Play Store in India. In February of the same year, the company pulled the plug on its short-video platform Zili in India.
Geopolitical Tensions and Xiaomi Challenges in India
Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between India and China, app shutdowns occurred. Indian authorities tightened regulations on Chinese companies. Xiaomi’s other apps faced scrutiny too. The company also faced tax evasion and illegal remittances allegations. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided Xiaomi’s offices. Layoffs happened at its local subsidiary due to the impacted operations. Xiaomi slipped to the third position in the Indian smartphone market.
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