Chinese smartphone maker OPPO eyes more European markets

 Chinese smartphone maker OPPO said it would continue its rapid push into Europe, with Germany, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine next on its list of possible markets.

OPPO ranked fourth in global smartphone sales in the final quarter of 2018, according to Gartner analysis, with sales of 31.6 million devices and a 7.7 percent share of the market.

Global VP and president of overseas business Alen Wu said OPPO had entered 10 new markets since the start of 2018, including Spain and Britain.

“We now are currently doing research - doing our homework - in terms of entering other European markets, such as Germany, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine,” he said in an interview at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

“The past couple of days we have had a lot of talks with carriers and retailers, and they are all very keen to start extensive collaboration with OPPO.”

OPPO, one of a host of makers to show off their first 5G devices at the event, ranks second to Huawei in the Chinese market, according to IDC.

“In Europe, our goal is to establish our brand as a brand representing mid-tier to premium products,” Alen Wu said, adding that most of its products would be in the price range of 250 to 600 euros