On November 6, Xiaomi's spokesperson Wang Hua responded via Weibo to the news about the discontinuation of Mi Call service.
Wang Hua stated that Mi Call traces its origins to Miliao, launched on December 10, 2010. At that time, internet-based calling apps were limited, and Xiaomi integrated this feature into Miliao to address communication needs among its fan community. "Back then, internet companies were highly optimistic about the prospects of instant messaging apps," Wang noted, adding that this function became a key tool for early Mi fans' social interactions.
With the widespread adoption of mobile internet and industry evolution, Xiaomi shifted its focus to core business areas. On February 19, 2021, Miliao officially ceased operations. However, Wang explained that due to continued reliance on Mi Call by many users, Xiaomi decided to spin off this standalone feature into a dedicated Mi Call app to serve remaining demand.
Regarding the shutdown, Wang clarified that internet-based calling is now ubiquitous, with users able to communicate anytime via mainstream apps. Additionally, Xiaomi's XiaoAI speaker app already supports device-to-device calls, fulfilling similar needs. "Mi Call has fulfilled its historical mission, and we will discontinue operations soon."