Telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies Co is undertaking a confidential project to develop its own operating system (OS), domestic news portal sina.com reported on Thursday, a move expert said aims to reduce its reliance on Google’s Android OS and capture overseas markets.<\/p>\n
Technology news sites have reported rumors circulating in the industry that Google might strengthen its control of the Android system over third-party devices or restrict original equipment manufacturers’ (OEMs’) use of functions and supporting services within the Android system.<\/p>\n
Android OS has been a free, open-source software for years, and Google allows OEMs to customize and adjust its functions as they wish.<\/p>\n
If Google is changing its policy on Android, then Huawei should come up with an alternative to avoid being plunged into an embarrassing situation, the sina.com report noted.<\/p>\n
That’s a major reason for Huawei’s reported pursuit of its own OS, and it also explains why South Korea-based Samsung has released a mobile OS called Tizen.<\/p>\n
Also, Huawei is pursuing expansion in overseas markets, especially in the US and Europe, where it faces strong competitors like Apple and Samsung in the mobile industry, expert said.<\/p>\n
“Huawei’s increasing revenues give it the capital to develop a unique OS that is resembles neither Android nor [Apple’s] iOS, while meeting the demand of Western consumers,” Wang Yanhui, secretary-general of the Mobile China Alliance, told the Global Times on Thursday.<\/p>\n
In line with the company’s development goals, former Apple creative director, Abigail Brody was hired by Huawei in 2015 as the chief user experience designer.<\/p>\n
Huawei didn’t respond to an interview request from the Global Times as of press time.<\/p>\n
Media reports indicate that the OS project is still in its infancy, with a team in Scandinavia that includes former Nokia engineers.<\/p>\n
Although innovative strides made by Huawei make the project’s future a bright one, Wang also warned that it will take time to develop an entirely new OS.<\/p>\n
“Any mobile OS relies heavily on its ecosystem. Currently, almost all the mobile applications have two versions – Android and iOS. But are they willing to develop a new and unique version for Huawei?” Wang said.<\/p>\n
“So Huawei will opt to apply the OS first on its smartwatches and bands, and then gradually to other consumer electronic products like set-top boxes and finally to its mobile,” Wang noted.<\/p>\n
In 2015, Huawei’s research and development spending increased 46.1 percent year-on-year to 59.6 billion yuan ($9.2 billion), accounting for 15 percent of its sales revenue, its financial statements show.<\/p>\n
The company also leads in terms of international corporate patent filings with a record of 3,898 filings in 2015, topping the global list for the second consecutive year, according to the Xinhua News Agency, which cited the World Intellectual Property Organization.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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