TikTok Parent ByteDance Developing Its Own Smartphone: Report

TikTok will probably come pre-installed on the phone.

By Ali Pardiwala | Updated: 28 May 2019 12:17 IST

Video sharing platform TikTok is one of ByteDance’s most popular apps

Highlights

ByteDance is working on a smartphone that will focus on its apps
TikTok and other ByteDance apps could come pre-loaded on the phone
The smartphone is likely to be a budget offering

Chinese Internet technology company ByteDance has seen some success with its various apps and services, particularly TikTok. The video sharing service gained popularity when the company acquired Musical.ly and merged it into TikTok, which is gaining significant attention in India. Reports now suggest that ByteDance is looking to boost its product portfolio with its own smartphone, which could come with various ByteDance apps preloaded. Although no details of the smartphone have been revealed, it's likely that the device will be a budget offering to cater to the typical audience of ByteDance's apps.

A report by the Financial Times suggests that the device is in the works. Apart from the popular TikTok app, ByteDance has also developed other popular apps, including Douyin, which is the version of TikTok in use in China. Although both apps work on the same software, ByteDance maintains separate networks for the two apps to adhere to stricter Chinese censorship laws. The company also has News Republic and TopBuzz, which are the company's other international offerings.

Citing Financial Times, PhoneArena reports the smartphone will likely come with the entire suite of ByteDance's consumer apps pre-installed, and could also have features geared around popular apps such as TikTok. The device is likely to be a budget offering considering that most of TikTok's users are young people who may not have a very high budget for a smartphone.

According to The Verge, ByteDance recently signed a deal with Smartisan to acquire a patent portfolio and hire some Smartisan employees. This set of assets could help the company develop its new smartphone. However, whether such a smartphone is convincing enough for buyers remains the question, given that ByteDance's apps work on practically every Android and iOS smartphone around.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.