The Unplugged Notes of Mi Music
Chinese smartphone titan, Xiaomi, continues its app shutdown saga in India with the recent delisting of its music streaming service, Mi Music, from Google's Play Store in the country.
TechCrunch initially reported this development, with attempts to access Mi Music's webpage on the Play Store drawing blanks. Users are now greeted with an error message stating 'We're sorry, the requested URL was not found on this server' when they try to access the download page.
Interestingly, an archived version of the app's download page, dating back to June 2, 2023, revealed that the app had scored over 1 billion downloads and had amassed 2.33 million reviews. Xiaomi's app marketplace, GetApps, curiously, still lists the app.
A Farewell Tune to Mi Music's Journey
Launched back in 2018, Mi Music allowed Xiaomi phone users to stream music directly on their devices. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer introduced this service in partnership with Indian entertainment company, Hungama, in which Xiaomi had previously invested in 2016.
Pre-installed on Xiaomi phones, the app offered music in more than 15 local languages.
A Symphony of App Shutdowns
Mi Music's shutdown follows a slew of similar moves by Xiaomi in India over the past year. In October, Xiaomi removed its digital payment app, Mi Pay, and the digital lending app, Mi Credit, from India's Play Store. The company discontinued its short-video platform, Zili, in the country in February.
The Underlying Discord
These developments echo the ongoing geopolitical tensions between India and China, especially post the Galwan clash. India's authorities have since tightened their grip on Chinese companies operating within the country. Xiaomi's browser, video call, and community apps have also faced backlash from local authorities.
Moreover, Xiaomi is under investigation for alleged tax evasion and illicit remittances. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted raids on the company's offices, and long-serving executive Manu Kumar Jain left the company earlier this year.
