ByteDance is expanding beyond its social media base , signing a deal with manufacturer Smartisan Technology to develop a device . The device has reportedly been in development for 18 months and the Chinese company is said to have bought Smartisan patents . REUTERS It claims more than 300 million monthly users for its Douyin video streaming app and reported increasing popularity for Douyin ’s global operation TikTok in North America . Expansion beyond social media has also seen the company hire staff from a company that produces user - generated music .
ByteDance is expanding beyond its social media base , signing a deal with manufacturer Smartisan Technology to develop a device . The device has reportedly been in development for 18 months and the Chinese company is said to have bought Smartisan patents . It claims more than 300 million monthly users for its Douyin video streaming app and reported increasing popularity for Douyin ’s global operation TikTok in North America . Expansion beyond social media has also seen the company hire staff from a company that produces user - generated music .