Xiaomi Set to Open Mi.com Marketplace in the U.S. and Europe May 19

Chinese upstart smartphone maker Xiaomi is set to make its first move into the U.S. and Europe next week, according to reports citing a post on the company’s Facebook (FB) page.

The mobile device manufacturer, which has bolted out of nowhere to an astronomic market valuation of some $46 billion after a $1.1 billion capital infusion last December, plans to dip its toes into select western markets with a small lineup of accessories.

Beginning Tuesday, May 19, Xiaomi will begin selling a limited supply of accessories, including the 5000mAh and 10400mAh Mi power banks, Mi Band and Mi Headphones–but not the vendor’s smartphones and tablets–at its Mi.com beta site for the U.S., U.K., France and Germany, according to a 9to5Google report.

“For the 1st time ever, fans in US, UK, France and Germany can shop on mi.com (beta test) and purchase star accessories like the 5000mAh and 10400mAh Mi power banks, Mi Band and Mi Headphones!” Xiaomi posted on Facebook.

“Very limited quantities will be available on 19 May, 1pm CEST (7 a.m. EST). Sign up for a Mi Account (http://account.mi.com) now and log in early before the sale starts. Partager avec vos amis!”

In February, at a press event in San Francisco, Xiaomi International vice president Hugo Barra said the company would not sell its smartphones and tablets in the U.S. in 2015 but it was “thinking about” bringing the Mi.com store—and some accessories—to the U.S. market.

“The amount of effort required to bring those products to the market is an incredible amount of work. We’re accelerating our entering by bringing simpler products,” Barra said at the time.

Xiaomi’s meteoric climb in China has been accomplished in but four years, as the company’s online only sales model for low-priced handsets, apps and services has catapulted it over mobile device stalwart Samsung to the head of China’s smartphone market.

Based on iPhone 6 and 6 Plus sales, Apple (AAPL) claimed the top spot in China for Q1 2015, according to researcher IDC with 14.5 million units shipped for a 14.7 percent market share. Xiaomi dropped to second place with 13.5 million units shipped and a 13.7 percent stake.

Xiaomi is said to be readying a new smartphone based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 SoC for release in Q3 2015, according to an International Business Times report.

In April, Xiaomi debuted the Mi4i, a less expensive alternative to its popular Mi 4 handset.