Huawei Can Get Its OS Ready by This Fall, But There are Still Issues


Coinspeaker
Huawei Can Get Its OS Ready by This Fall, But There are Still Issues

As it’s already known, last week the Chinese smartphone giant, Huawei Technologies, faced a US ban that may prevent it from installing Google services on handsets sold in overseas markets.

However, Huawei smartphone unit head Richard Yu Chengdong, already in March revealed that the company has developed its own operating systems (OS) for smartphones and computers in case those provided by US technology firms are no longer available.

He explained that Huawei’s self-developed OS will be able to support a range of products and systems within its ecosystem, including smartphones, computers, tablets, TVs, automobiles and smart wear, which will also be compatible with all Android applications and existing web applications.

Yu added that Huawei’s own operating system would be out in a market only if the company was permanently blocked from using Google or Microsoft products.

“We don’t want to do this but we will forced to do that because of the U.S. government. I think the U.S., this kind of thing, will also not only be bad news for us, but also bad news for the U.S. companies because we support the U.S. business, so we will be forced to do this on our own. We don’t want to do this but we have no other solution, no other choice. The Huawei OS is likely to hit the market as soon as this fall, and no later than spring next year.”

Can Huawei’s OS Match Up to Apple’s?

There were worries that, if Huawei cannot use Android, that could be damaging because the phones wouldn’t have the Google Play Store where consumers can download apps. However, Yu said that Huawei’s own app store, known as the App Gallery, would be available on its own operating system.

However, there will be some issues and Tarun Pathak, associate director at Counterpoint Research, thinks “it will be a daunting task”, because, in the absence of an Android licence, Huawei will have its work cut out to build something that can live up to the Android experience.

James Yan, research director for Counterpoint, said Huawei was doing a good job in developing its own ecosystem like Apple has, which would benefit from the deployment of its own OS that connects all its services and products. But he added that it was still too early to say whether Huawei’s OS could match up to Apple’s, especially when serving overseas users.

Even though the ban came like a razor wind ready to destroy everything, it seems that, for now, nothing has changed. Huawei’s new budget phone brand Honor launched its latest flagship Honor 20 this week, including three new handsets – the Honor 20 Lite, Honor 20 and Honor 20 Pro – which cover the mid to low price range and supplement the Huawei brand’s premium position in the market.

Not just that Honor president Zhao Ming did not mention the Google ban during the product launch, but he confirmed that its new phones are equipped with Google’s Android services such as Google Play, Google Maps and Gmail.

Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei said:

“Google is a good company, a highly responsible company which is also convincing the US government to solve this problem.”

Also, he was very careful when speaking to media saying equating buying decisions with patriotism is wrong, and called for an end to criticism of US corporations.

However, today, Japan’s Panasonic said they have stopped shipments of certain components to Huawei Technologies to comply with U.S. restrictions on the Chinese company. The ban applies to goods having 25% or more of U.S.-originated technologies or materials.

Huawei Can Get Its OS Ready by This Fall, But There are Still Issues