Tim
Over this past weekend, all talk in the Android community was over OnePlus, and who actually owns the China-based “startup” manufacturer. Since initial coverage began over OnePlus in January, English-based media had pointed to the company being ran by an ex-OPPO executive which had a different idea for how smartphones should be made and sold.
From what OnePlus’ own executives had stated in interviews, which were translated to English, it was thought that the company had no direct ties to OPPO. Evidence that was unearthed this weekend appears to show a much different story.
According to a report from Chinese media, documents from China’s regulatory board show that OnePlus is a wholly owned subsidy of OPPO, which seem to have shocked many of OnePlus’ fans and followers across the Android community.
The reason for the apparent outrage by fans is that OnePlus has been selling itself as a young startup, who intended to do battle with all of the Android market’s top manufacturers. The problem with that ideology is that you can’t exactly do battle with a company you are owned by, so many people were taking it as a lie that OnePlus was a type of savior OEM.
Thankfully, GizChina reached out to OnePlus for a statement, and they got one. In the statement, which should clean up this mess regardless of which outcome you would prefer, it appears that OnePlus is a “separately run company” who does share common investors with OPPO.
We understand the confusion as many people are just finding out about OnePlus. But as we’ve said from the beginning, OnePlus is a separately run company that does share common investors with OPPO. One of those investors is OPPO Electronic. OPPO Electronic is an investment company and is not the same as OPPO Mobile. OnePlus is also in talks with other investors.
As it stands, OPPO Electronic is an investor of OnePlus, and is also the overseer company to OPPO Mobile. However, they are not one in the same. OPPO Mobile stands apart from OnePlus, and according to this statement, are not technically involved with one another – they only share common investors. As stated, OnePlus is actually in talks with other investors, which might put an end to this controversy once and for all.
Personally, from a consumer standpoint, who actually cares? What does it matter? The only people benefiting from OnePlus releasing a smartphone with killer specs at an awesome price are the consumers. For once, we should be happy about this news, regardless of where our money ends up going. We do realize that a few people may have felt “lied” to, but it is probably safe to assume that thanks to bad Chinese to English translations on the relationship between OnePlus’ CEO and OPPO’s investors, that was never the intended goal by the company.
Do you still want the OnePlus One or has this controversy smeared the company’s image too much for you? Let us know your thoughts down below, and whether you think OnePlus can spin this bad press around.
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