Chinese online retail giant JD.com has become one of the first distributors smart hardware makers would turn to whenever they are about to ship products. When maker revolution was about to explode JD established a sub-channel for selling smart hardware products only. Earlier this year, the company launched JD+, an accelerator for smart hardware products, offering funding, marketing support or other resources individual makers otherwise can hardly access. Smart hardware developers will also be able to implement JD’s user account system. Apart from working directly with manufacturers on designing smartphones, smart TVs, smart WiFi routers and the like, Xiaomi has started introducing hardware products designed and made by third parties, such as a portable battery charger.