Better, stronger, lighter and faster are perennial characteristics when it comes to the demands of modern-day technology and communication consumers.
With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT), entailing the direct integration of the physical world into computer-based systems, communications will make a quantum leap to the next level of vibrancy and exhilaration.
Seamless connections among smart electronic devices make life easier for everyone. It allows us to share the most up-to-date news, conduct swift online transactions or transfer indispensable files with the touch of a finger.
Although LeEco might not be a pioneer name in the tech-savvy community, this emerging technology company is gradually expanding its footprint in the business of IoT across two continents: Asia and the US.
Its products have come to embody the IoT, as everything can be connected digitally without any fragmentation, says Brian Hui, head of LeEco's North American operations.
Integration between LeEco's content, the Ecosystem User Interface (EUI), LeMall, and the vertical ecosystem demonstrate the company's notion of the IoT, he says.
The EUI transcends all boundaries, providing seamless interconnectivity across all LeEco devices by removing the barriers between software, hardware, platform, content and applications. Basically, a user can browse on his phone and switch over to his car with a simple swipe.
Headquartered in Beijing, LeEco is a Chinese technology firm with a wide range of business ventures. From internet TVs and smart gadgets to e-commerce and internet-linked electric cars, the company's name is a force to be reckoned with in the technology arena.
"For other e-commerce players, [their] big data is only transaction big data; you do not know exactly what consumers are doing when they use their phones, you simply don't understand them," says Mr Hui.
"For us, because we are a complete internet ecosystem company, we understand each and every product and service customers are using. Based on that, we can realise the UP2U programme," he says.
UP2U is an acronym for User Planning to User programme. Individuals can share feedback with LeEco via user trials, social channels and on-device applications at events, and their comments are shared with the User Experience Center and research and development teams to influence product updates and shape future offerings.
"For other companies, when they become customer-centric, it is only based on browsing and search experiences, which is a very basic level," says Mr Hui.
Interconnected devices
Since its inception in 2004, LeEco has amassed more than 5,000 movies and 100,000 television episodes, attracting over 50 million daily active users and more than 730 million monthly active users in China.
For digital gadgets, LeEco's Le Pro3 is its flagship smartphone product. With a 5.5-inch screen and sleek design, Le Pro3 features a brushed metal shell and a tough Corning Gorilla Glass screen with 2.5D curved edges for a smooth finish.
The smartphone's audio features include dual speakers, surround sound powered by Dolby Atmos and Continual Digital Lossless Audio technology.
For those who want long-lasting performance for their smartphones, Le Pro3 is equipped with a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor and a 4070mAh battery. It also features a 16-megapizel rear-facing camera for vivid photos, panoramas and videos in 4K, along with an eight-megapixel front-facing camera for capturing colourful selfies. The price tag for all these features is an affordable US$399 (around 14,000 baht).
Selling more than 7 million units over the past three years in the Chinese market, LeEco's smart TVs take viewers to another dimension, with the uMax85 giving a boost to home cinema with a huge 85-inch display housed in a slim industrial design.
This smart TV, with a price tag of $4,999, is also packed with superior technology features including the industry-leading full array, 448 active local dimming zones, high dynamic range, Dolby Vision, Fluid Motion 1920 display technology and Harman Kardon audio.
The company also produces other electrifying products such as an Android-powered smart bike and virtual reality headset.
But its most visionary product is the LeSEE Pro, an electric driverless automobile.
Automobile electrification, embedded artificial intelligence, connectivity and social sharing are the four key pillars of this futuristic vehicle, says Tony Nie, LeEco's senior vice-president overseeing strategic investments and car business.
LeSEE Pro's self-driving electric vehicle was recently launched in China and the US. It's a "production car", however, so the time frame in which the driverless vehicle will be available to consumers is not yet known. The price has also not been disclosed, he says.
"Because of the regulations and how markets are not fully ready in terms of users' [familiarity], if I put you in a car without a steering wheel, you would feel weird because no one has had this kind of experience. We need some education time to help users get used to autonomous driving. The regulations for such driving are also not fully ready," says Mr Nie.
"It has the basic function as a transportation tool from point A to B, but is also equipped with value-added features such as internet service, [digital] content and [integrated] connectivity. It will be a key part of LeEco's ecosystem," he says, noting that the premium level of LeSEE Pro is based on brand recognition vehicle performance.
A manufacturing partner will be selected to assist with mass production of this smart electric-driven vehicle, says Mr Hui, although further details were not forthcoming.
Asean Penetration
With a growing middle class population and high demand for technological gadgets, LeEco targets Southeast Asia on its expansion radar as it sees numerous opportunities emerging from the region.
"We will consider [expanding into] Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. These countries either have very mature infrastructure and retail environments or large populations," says Mr Hui.
"Because we are an internet ecosystem company, we need a certain population that can help us to scale [our business]. Otherwise, it only becomes a sales market [for us], which doesn't make sense," he says.
LeEco is seeking to expand into Southeast Asia during the first half of 2017, says Mr Hui. It currently does not have any presence in the region. Besides China, the company maintains a presence in India, Russia, and the US.
Similar to the company's strategy to penetrate the US market, LeEco initially aims to launch its smart devices on the Southeast Asian market as a core initiative, followed by digital content at a later stage, he says.
LeEco reported its annual revenue at 13 billion yuan last year (65 billion baht), up 91% year-on-year, with sales of smart TVs strongly contributing to its revenue growth.
References: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/LeEco-delivers-remarkable-performance-in-2015-set-to-outshine-in-growth/articleshow/51513779.cms http://www.scmp.com/tech/article/1918827/riding-chinas-smart-tv-boom-leeco-sees-revenue-jump-90-cent-2015.