A flood of low-cost smartphones into the China market looks set to accelerate with word that the trendy Xiaomi is preparing to launch a low-end model that will sell for just 1,000 yuan (HK$1,255). Xiaomi's new phone, called Hongmi or "Red Rice" has been rumoured for a while, and was actually supposed to launch in June but
ran into unspecified regulator snags. Now media are reporting the Hongmi phones could launch this week, adding a new player to an already overheated market for low-end smartphones.