Shunned by the USA and on the outer in Australia Huawei Technologies has finally revealed new software that will replace the banned Android OS on their mobile devices.
Code-named “Hongmeng” or “Ark,” the new Huawei software is tipped to be used in Huawei smartphones, TV’s and tablets.
The OS embodies Huawei’s shift towards not being dependant on US designed software such as Google’s Android OS.
Bloomberg said that Huawei’s efforts actually mirror Apple’s efforts to develop vertically-integrated supply and production lines that help reduce exposure to inclement market forces, unreliable suppliers and unpredictable events like international trade disputes.
The Huawei OS will also act as a replacement for Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows OS on laptops and tablets.
While Huawei insists it doesn’t want to use the new OS, due in part to observers claiming that it has little chance of success outside of China they will try to use it if they cannot sort out its issues with the US Government.
Huawei was the second-largest smartphone vendor, behind Samsung and ahead of Apple prior to the Google ban, now they are facing a massive slump as sales crash up to 80% in several markets.
There is also speculation that Huawei could succeed in persuading other Chinese smartphone vendors to start using its Hongmeng OS with a little help from the Chinese Communist Government.
However, Hongmeng will face an uphill battle to compete against Google Android. Huawei’s rise to become the second-largest smartphone vendor has everything to do with Google Android. The fact that the company sells most of its smartphones outside China means it will find it difficult to sell products that don’t have Google apps claims research group Market Realist.
Customers will be able to get a feel for the new Huawei OS when Huawei launches its new smart display products at IFA in September.
For the foreseeable future, Huawei remains dependent on Android for its mainstream smartphones, especially outside China they are also going to have to find new suppliers other than US manufacturers.
Observers also claim that Huawei will need developers to build valuable apps for its ecosystem, which is another major question mark around Hongmeng.
