Huawei is expanding its HarmonyOS operating system globally, despite US sanctions

Last year, Huawei introduced its developer-only “HarmonyOS NEXT” operating system. This platform does not support Android apps and could represent the future of Huawei smartphones as well as other connected smart devices. According to a previous report by the publication Nikkei Asia, the latest version of the proprietary operating system HarmonyOS NEXT, released in January, could rival iOS and Android in the future.

HarmonyOS NEXT aims to become the third most preferred mobile operating platform Currently, the latest information shows that Huawei is planning to launch the HarmonyOS ecosystem globally. As a result of US sanctions in 2019, the company developed a new operating system called HarmonyOS for smartphones, tablets and other connected smart devices.

Huawei’s proprietary operating system has so far been limited only to the Chinese domestic market, but now the company aims to expand it worldwide. At this year’s Analyst Summit, Huawei’s current chairman, Xu Zhijun, revealed the company’s plans. Huawei believes it can make HarmonyOS the third most preferred operating platform for mobile devices globally.

Expanding the app ecosystem for HarmonyOS, a major challenge

The company is working closely with developers to build a robust app ecosystem for HarmonyOS. Initially, Huawei will focus on the Chinese market. According to Xu, users in their country spend most of their time using a set of about 5,000 apps. As expected, the company will prioritize the availability and optimal performance of these applications.

However, building an app ecosystem and competing with established giants like Google Play Store or Apple App Store could pose a significant challenge. According to data provided by Business of Apps, Google Play Store currently has a collection of over 3.2 million apps, while the App Store offers over 2 million. It will be interesting to see how the global market will react if Huawei succeeds in building a competitive app ecosystem.

Developing a proprietary kernel for HarmonyOS

As for HarmonyOS NEXT, Huawei is also reported to be working on a new proprietary “Harmony Kernel” instead of using a Linux kernel. For the uninitiated, the kernel forms the basis of the operating system. Therefore, Huawei is putting a lot of effort into making its operating system different from Android.