View source for Vivo (technology company)

{{short description|Chinese technology company}}
{{distinguish|Vivo (telecommunications company)|Asus Vivo|VIVO (software)|Vevo}}
{{Other uses|Vivo (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
| native_name = 维沃移动通信有限公司
| logo = Vivo logo 2019.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| image = Vivo Mansion (Nanjing).jpg
| image_caption = Vivo building in [[Nanjing]], [[Jiangsu]]
| founders = {{ubl|Shen Wei|[[Duan Yongping]]}}
| area_served = Worldwide{{efn|Australia,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vivo.com/au|title = HomePage &#124; Vivo Australia}}</ref> Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam}}
| key_people = {{ubl|Shen Wei (Founder & CEO)|Baishan Hu (Executive Vice President & COO)|Spark Ni (Senior Vice President & CMO)|Yujian Shi (Senior Vice President & CTO)}}
| industry = [[Consumer electronics]]
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| parent =
| products = [[Smartphone]]s<br /br /> [[Software]] and [[Online service]]s
| subsid = [[iQOO]]
| owner = [[BBK Electronics]] (2009–2023) <br> Independent (2023–present)
| num_employees = 40,000<ref>{{cite web |url=https://techsgenie.com/about-vivo-company|title= About Vivo Company|last= |first= |date= 24 May 2023|website= Techs Genie|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>
| num_employees_year = 2022
| homepage = {{URL|vivo.com}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|2009|05|22}}
| location_city = [[Dongguan]], [[Guangdong]]
| location_country = China
| capital =
| sales =
| divisions =
| affiliated_companies =
| module = {{Chinese|child = yes
|title = Vivo 维沃
|s     = 维沃移动通信有限公司
|t     = 維沃移動通信有限公司
|p     = Wéi Wò Yídòng Tōngxìn Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī
|l     = Vivo Mobile Communications Co., Ltd.
|order = st}}
}}
'''Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.''', [[Doing-business-as|d/b/a]] '''vivo''', is a Chinese [[Multinational corporation|multinational]] [[technology company]] headquartered in [[Dongguan]], [[Guangdong]], that designs and develops [[Smartphone|smartphones]], smartphone accessories, software, and online services. The company develops software for its phones, distributed through its V-Appstore, with [[iManager]] included in their proprietary, Android-based operating system, Origin OS in [[mainland China]], and Funtouch OS elsewhere. It has 10,000 employees, with 10 R&D centers in [[Shenzhen]], [[Dongguan]], [[Nanjing]], [[Beijing]], [[Hangzhou]], [[Shanghai]], [[Xi'an|Xi’an]], [[Taipei]], [[Tokyo]], and [[San Diego]]. <ref>{{cite web |title= A Look Inside: Vivo Tokyo R&D Center |url= https://techplugged.com/a-look-inside-vivo-tokyo-rd-center |website= TechPlugged |date=22 January 2022 |access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Vivo Bolsters its Global Manufacturing Network with Two More Production Bases |url=https://techuncode.com/vivo-bolsters-its-global-manufacturing-network-with-two-more-production-bases |website=Techuncode |last=Anthony |first=Ogbonna |date=11 August 2021 |access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref>
== History ==
Since its founding in 2009, Vivo has expanded its global market, serving over 400 million users with its mobile products and services in over 60 countries and regions. <ref>{{cite web |title=Vivo among Top 3 in Market Share for the Philippines, Malaysia, and India |url=https://pandaily.com/vivo-among-top-3-in-market-share-for-the-philippines-malaysia-and-india/ |website=Pandaily |access-date=28 February 2022 |date=16 December 2021}}</ref>
In 2017, Vivo entered the smartphone market in [[Taiwan]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Macau]], [[Russia]], [[Brunei]], [[Cambodia]], [[Laos]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Bangladesh]], and [[Nepal]].<ref>[http://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/vivo-mobile-enters-myanmar-market-4454/ Vivo Mobile enters Myanmar market]. Dealstreetasia.com (2015-03-27). Retrieved on 2017-01-03.</ref><ref>[http://www.rvce.edu.in/news/chinese-smartphone-maker-vivo-mobile-set-to-enter-india-to-launch-x5max-on-dec-15/ "Chinese smartphone maker vivo Mobile set to enter India, to launch X5Max on Dec 15"]. Bgr.in. Retrieved on 2017-01-03.</ref><ref>[http://www.ipdatainfo.com/p/ofode/vivo-Officially-Launches-Brand-and-X5Pro-in-Malaysia.html Vivo Officially Launches Brand and X5Pro in Malaysia]. Ipdatainfo.com (2015-06-25). Retrieved on 2017-01-03.</ref><ref name="Neotryx">[http://www.neotryx.com/2015/01/meet-vivo-x5-max-worlds-slimmest.html Meet Vivo X5 Max – the world's slimmest smartphone at 4.75mm]. Neotryx.com (2015-01-02). Retrieved on 2017-01-03.</ref> In June 2017, it entered the Pakistan smartphone market, and the Vivo brand is currently experiencing rapid growth and popularity in the country.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.phoneworld.com.pk/vivo-will-launch-in-pakistan/|title=World's 5th Most Selling Smartphone Brand, Vivo will Launch in Pakistan on July 5th 2017 – PhoneWorld|last=Mustafa|first=Onsa|date=2017-06-29|work=PhoneWorld|access-date=2017-08-21|language=en-US}}</ref> In October 2020, Vivo announced that it would begin to sell its products also in Europe.
[[File:vivo X60 Pro+ Orange.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Vivo X60]] featured the [[Carl Zeiss AG|Zeiss]] co-engineered imaging system.]]
Vivo officially launched in Pakistan in the year 2017. Since then, they have been offering their smartphones and other products in the [[Pakistan|Pakistani]] market.
On 17 December 2020, Vivo and [[Carl Zeiss AG|Zeiss]] announced a long-term strategic partnership to jointly promote and develop breakthrough innovations in mobile imaging technology. The first "Vivo Zeiss co-engineered imaging system" was featured in the [[Vivo X60]] series. As part of the collaboration agreement, Vivo and Zeiss established the Vivo Zeiss Imaging Lab, a joint R&D program to innovate mobile imaging technology for Vivo's flagship smartphones.<ref name="ZEISS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.zeiss.com/consumer-products/int/home/content/newsroom/news-overview/2020/strategic-partnership.html|title=vivo and ZEISS Enter Global Partnership for Mobile Imaging|access-date=26 March 2021}}</ref>
In 2023, Vivo was ranked among the top 5 smartphone makers, achieving a global market share of 10%.<ref>{{cite web |title=Global Smartphone Shipments Market Data (Q1 2022 – Q4 2023) |url=https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/global-smartphone-share/ |access-date=2 March 2022 |website=canalys}}</ref>
In April 2021, three pallets of Vivo phones<ref>{{Cite web |title=vivo Archives |url=https://mobiledorpon.com/brand/vivo/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=My Mobile WebSite |language=en-US}}</ref> caught fire at [[Hong Kong International Airport]], prompting a ban on air freight of Vivo phones through [[Hong Kong]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theloadstar.com/hong-kong-air-cargo-ban-on-vivo-phones-after-pallets-catch-fire-at-airport/|title=Hong Kong Air Cargo ban on Vivo phones after pallets catch fire at airport|date=12 April 2021}}</ref>
In June 2022, Vivo entered the world-famous ''[[Guinness World Records|Guinness Book of Records]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-08 |title=vivo X Fold Guinness World Record Endurance 300000 Folds |url=https://dailytechupdate.com/2022/06/08/vivo-x-fold-guinness-world-record/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |language=en-US}}</ref> It achieved the record for the "Longest Video," in which its flagship device [[Vivo X Fold]], happened to be folded over 300,000 times for a total length of 270 hours or 11 days and 6 hours.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khavanekar |first=Aditya |date=2022-06-09 |title=vivo X Fold successfully challenged the Guinness record: 300,000 folds in 11 days are still as new |url=https://gamingsym.in/vivo-x-fold-successfully-challenged-the-guinness-record-300000-folds-in-11-days-are-still-as-new/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=Gamingsym |language=en-US}}</ref>
In November 2023, Vivo announced [[BlueOS]], a [[open-source]] [[distributed operating system]] for [[Internet of things|Internet of]] Things smart devices and [[Wearables]] with Vivo Watch 3 featuring the new operating system.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hudson |first1=Olivia |title=This is BlueOS, the new Vivo operating system that wants to break with Android |url=https://www.gearrice.com/update/this-is-blueos-the-new-vivo-operating-system-that-wants-to-break-with-android/ |website=Gearrice |date=2 November 2023 |access-date=10 February 2024}}</ref>
=== Marketing ===
In October 2015, Vivo became the [[title sponsor]] of the [[Indian Premier League]] (IPL) under a two-year deal starting in the [[2016 Indian Premier League|2016 season]].<ref>[http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/75240/vivo-bags-indian-premier-league-title-sponsorship-for-two-years Vivo bags IPL title sponsorship for two years]. Cricbuzz.com (2015-10-19). Retrieved on 2017-01-03.</ref><ref>[http://www.thequint.com/sports/2015/10/27/vivo-formally-announces-partnership-with-bcci-as-ipl-sponsor Vivo Formally Announces Partnership With BCCI as IPL Sponsor]. Thequint.com (2015-10-27). Retrieved on 2017-01-03.</ref> In July 2017, the deal was extended until 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/1106833.html|title=vivo retains IPL title rights till 2022 after massive bid|work=Cricinfo|access-date=2017-06-27|language=en}}</ref> However, in response to the [[2020–2021 China–India skirmishes]] between India and China, the [[Board of Control for Cricket in India]] (BCCI) was criticised in India for allowing a Chinese company to be the title sponsor of the league. Vivo and BCCI mutually agreed to suspend the deal for the 2020 season, with a clause to resume it next season.<ref>{{Cite web|title=IPL title sponsor: Dream 11 replaces Vivo as IPL 2020 title sponsor, to pay BCCI Rs 222 crore|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/article/ipl-title-sponsor-dream-11-replaces-vio-as-ipl-2020-title-sponsor-to-pay-bcci-250-crore/638828|access-date=2020-08-18|website=www.timesnownews.com|date=18 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
In June 2017, Vivo reached a sponsorship deal with [[FIFA]] to become the official smartphone brand of the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018]] and [[2022 FIFA World Cup]]s.<ref name="verge-vivofifa">{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/2/15728884/vivo-world-cup-fifa-china-smartphone-sponsor|title=vivo wants you to know its name so much it's sponsoring the World Cup|website=The Verge|access-date=4 June 2017|date=2 June 2017}}</ref> The company also signed a deal with [[UEFA]] as an official partner of the [[UEFA Euro 2020]] and [[UEFA Euro 2024]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=UEFA.com|date=2020-10-20|title=Vivo becomes official partner of UEFA EURO 2020 and 2024 {{!}} Inside UEFA|url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/news/0262-10a7e6283cfe-39c5c148caf4-1000--vivo-becomes-official-partner-of-uefa-euro-2020-and-2024/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=UEFA.com|language=en}}</ref> and became a title sponsor of India's [[Pro Kabaddi League]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/pro-kabaddi-signs-record-five-year-deal-with-vivo/story-lo6ZEnSTzYXM8g3CSf8sqN.html|title=Pro Kabaddi league: STAR Sports signs record five-year deal with vivo|date=2017-05-08|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2017-09-04|language=en}}</ref>
Vivo has a sponsorship deal with the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] in China, with [[Golden State Warriors]] player [[Stephen Curry]]. He endorses the brand in China and the Philippines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/stephen-curry-endorsing-a-chinese-smartphone-brand/308596/|title=Why Stephen Curry Is Plugging a Chinese Smartphone|author=Doland, Angela|date=2017-04-24|work=Advertising Age|access-date=2017-08-17}}</ref> In March 2024, Vivo became the main sponsor for [[Nepal Idol]]. They became the official smartphone brand for the television series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theannapurnaexpress.com/story/47752/#:~:text=Vivo%20mobile%20is%20the%20main,fifth%20edition%20of%20Nepal%20Idol.|work=The Annapurna Express|title=Nepal Idol Season 5 starts in March 7|date=2024-02-28}}</ref>
==Controversy ==
=== IMEI and build number controversy in India ===
In June 2020, the cybercrime unit of [[Meerut]] Police revealed that more than 13,500 Vivo smartphones used in India were running on the same [[International Mobile Equipment Identity|IMEI]] number. The IMEI number is a 15-digit code meant to be unique to every mobile device communication administration, that may be used for tracking criminals or stolen mobile phones. By using the same IMEI number for multiple devices, Vivo could have hampered police tracking of criminals or stolen devices. In 2017, the [[Telecom Regulatory Authority of India]] issued a statement that all mobile devices would be required to have a unique IMEI number. Failure to do so would be seen as tampering and could result in a fine or up to three years of imprisonment.
The events led to the police filing a case against Vivo and its service centre. The lapse reportedly came to light when a police officer gave his mobile phone to the staff at the cybercrime unit for examination, as the phone was not working properly despite being repaired at a Vivo service center in Meerut. The cybercrime unit found that the IMEI number of the device was different from the one printed on the box, and then forwarded the IMEI number to an unidentified [[Telephone company|Telephone Company]] providing telecommunications services for the handset and asked for the relevant data. The company informed that as of 24 September 2019, the same IMEI number had been running on 13,557 mobile phones in different states of the country. The Meerut police reportedly handed a notice to Vivo India's nodal officer Harmanjit Singh under Section 91 of the CrPC, and also registered a case under [[Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-05|title=More than 13,500 Vivo phones running on same IMEI, Meerut police files case|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/mobile-tabs/vivo-phones-same-imei-13500-6444369/|access-date=2020-06-06|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Banerjee|first=Prasid|date=2020-06-05|title=Police confirms phones with same IMEI number were made by Vivo|url=https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/police-confirms-phones-with-same-imei-number-were-made-by-vivo-11591367089206.html|access-date=2020-06-06|website=Livemint|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=June 2020|first=Jitendra Soni 05|title=Over 13000 Vivo phones found to be using same IMEI number|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/over-13000-vivo-phones-found-to-be-using-same-imei-number|access-date=2020-06-06|website=TechRadar India|date=5 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=5 June 2020|first=Piyush|last=Rai|title=Cop dropped off phone for repairs, 'unique' IMEI found active on 13,500 phones|newspaper=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cop-dropped-off-phone-for-repairs-unique-imei-found-active-on-13500-phones/articleshow/76206203.cms|access-date=2020-06-06|language=en}}</ref>
===Tax evasion allegation in India===
The [[Directorate of Revenue Intelligence]] of India (DRI) raided the offices of Vivo in July 2022 and accused the company of tax evasion. The company allegedly remitted almost half of its turnover out of India.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 July 2022 |title=Vivo India remitted about 50% of its turnover to China to avoid taxes: ED |work=Business Standard |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/vivo-india-remitted-about-50-of-its-turnover-to-china-to-avoid-taxes-ed-122070700831_1.html}}</ref> The [[Enforcement Directorate]] also blocked the bank accounts of the company to prevent further money laundering.<ref>{{Cite web |title=India raids vivo offices over money laundering allegations |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/07/06/india-raids-vivo-offices-over-money-laundering-allegations/ |access-date=2022-07-30 |website=TechCrunch |date=6 July 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> The agency also found that some top executives of Vivo who are Chinese had incorporated 23 shell companies in India, with the help of a [[Chartered Accountant (India)|Chartered Accountant]], Nitin Grg. "These (23) companies are found to have transferred huge amounts of funds to [[Vivo India]]. Further, out of the total sale proceeds of Rs 1,25,185 crore, Vivo India remitted Rs 62,476 crore or almost 50 per cent of the turnover out of India, mainly to China", the ED said in a statement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DRI Says Vivo India Evaded Customs Duty Worth Rs 2,217 Crore |url=https://thewire.in/government/dri-says-vivo-india-evaded-customs-duty-worth-rs-2217-crore |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=The Wire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-03 |title=DRI detected customs evasion worth over ₹2.21 crore by Vivo India: Govt |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/technology/dri-detected-customs-evasion-worth-over-rs-2-21-crore-by-vivo-india-govt-101659530000572.html |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> In October 2023, the Enforcement Directorate arrested the head of administration of Vivo India on money laundering charges.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-10-12 |title=India arrests Chinese smartphone executive in fraud probe |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/12/tech/vivo-india-arrest-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=[[CNN]] |language=en}}</ref>
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.vivo.com/eu|name=Official Website}}
{{Vivo}}
{{Electronics industry in China}}
{{Major mobile device companies}}
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[[Category:Vivo (technology company)| ]]
[[Category:Mobile phone manufacturers]]
[[Category:Mobile phone companies of China]]
[[Category:Electronics companies of China]]
[[Category:Companies based in Dongguan]]
[[Category:Electronics companies established in 2009]]
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[[Category:Chinese companies established in 2009]]
[[Category:Privately held companies of China]]
[[Category:Multinational companies headquartered in China]]