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Reuters

ByteDance, the world’s most valuable start-up, said on Monday it is developing a smartphone, following a deal it made with device maker Smartisan Technology.
That plan comes as the Beijing-based company behind popular short-form video-sharing app TikTok, known as Douyin in mainland China, expands into new sectors beyond video and news apps.
In a statement, a ByteDance spokeswoman said a smartphone had been part of development plans.
“The product was a continuation of earlier Smartisan plans, aiming to satisfy the needs of the old Smartisan user base,” the spokeswoman said.
ByteDance, the company behind TikTok video app, looks beyond entertainment with a move into education
The ByteDance smartphone had been in development for seven months, according to a report on Monday by a subdivision of Chinese financial news outlet Caijing. That effort is being led by Wu Dezhou, a former executive at Smartisan, the report said.
Earlier this year, ByteDance acquired a set of patents from Smartisan. Some Smartisan employees also transferred to ByteDance, as part of what the start-up called a “normal flow of talent”.
Smartisan is a niche player in China’s highly competitive smartphone sector. The privately held company, which is also based in Beijing, is best known for its flamboyant founder Luo Yonghao.
Founded in 2012, ByteDance has risen to become a leading player in the country’s technology industry, rivalling the likes of Baidu and Tencent Holdings in influence.




Douyin has more than 300 million monthly active users in China, ByteDance marketing manager Zhi Ying said in June. TikTok, its global-facing counterpart, has also grown popular in North America.
ByteDance, which also operates Chinese news app Jinri Toutiao, has recently begun investing in sectors not directly related to social media. The company has hired several staff from London-based start-up Jukedeck, which specialises in artificial intelligence-generated music.


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Smartphones

TikTok creator ByteDance to enter smartphone market, following deal with Smartisan

ByteDance, the world’s most valuable start-up, is entering the smartphone market, following a deal with Smartisan Technology. Photo: Reuters

Chinese unicorn ByteDance, creator of popular short-form video-sharing app TikTok, plans to diversify its business with a foray into the smartphone market. Photo: Reuters

ByteDance spurs TikTok’s global expansion by snapping up music tech from AI start-up Jukedeck

TikTok, the popular short-form video-sharing app operated by Chinese start-up ByteDance, has more than 500 million monthly active users worldwide. Photo: Reuters

Total installations of TikTok, the popular short-form video-sharing app operated by Chinese start-up ByteDance, are estimated to be 1.2 billion worldwide, according to mobile intelligence firm Sensor Tower. Photo: Simon Song

TikTok owner ByteDance gathers 1 billion monthly active users across its apps

TikTok has recently hired Silicon Valley veterans to help it expand its businesses in the US. Photo: Bloomberg

ByteDance poaches from Facebook to power short video app TikTok’s global expansion

Blake Chandlee, the newly hired head of strategic partnerships at TikTok, strikes a pose for the popular short-form video app on his Facebook. Photo: Blake Chandlee

An AFP collaborator poses for a picture using the smart phone application TikTok on December 14, 2018 in Paris. - TikTok, is a Chinese short-form video-sharing app, which has proved wildly popular this year. (Photo by - / AFP)

ByteDance, the company behind TikTok video app, looks beyond entertainment with a move into education

A man walks past an advertisement for Bytedance's news feed platform Toutiao in Beijing. Photo: Reuters

World's most valuable start-up ByteDance slashes 'lucky money' for Year of the Pig as founder warns of challenging 2019

Chinese short video app Tik Tok is adding a "do not attempt" disclaimer at the beginning of clips featuring stunts after a user hurt his toddler while trying to imitate a daring move he saw in a video. SCMP Pictures(UNDATED HANDOUT)

Model poses with new and old banknotes for Lunar New Year red packets at the HSBC branch in Mong Kok. Photo: Tory Ho

Tech

Big Tech

Business

China Business


The world’s most valuable start-up is expanding into new sectors beyond video and news apps



The world’s most valuable start-up, backed by well-heeled investors such as Japan’s SoftBank, is expanding into new sectors beyond video and news apps.


Start-ups

China technology

TikTok

Apps

TikTok creator ByteDance to enter smartphone market, following deal with Smartisan

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} The world’s most valuable start-up is expanding into new sectors beyond video and news apps

The world’s most valuable start-up is expanding into new sectors beyond video and news apps