Posted on 05/22/2019 7:16:31 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Huawei Technologies, the largest smartphone vendor in China, said it has developed its own operating systems (OS) for both smartphones and computers, which can be used on its devices in the event that current systems provided by US technology giants are no longer available.
The Chinese company has developed a proprietary OS as tensions between the company and the US government could impact the availability of US-made operating systems used on Huawei devices, Huawei’s mobile chief Richard Yu Chengdong, said in an interview with German publication Die Welt.
Yu’s comments confirm an earlier report by the South China Morning Post in April 2018, which revealed the existence of a years-long project to build an alternative to Google’s Android OS. Huawei started building its own operating system after a US investigation into Huawei and ZTE Corp in 2012, a person familiar with the matter said in the report.
“We have prepared our own operating system, if it turns out we can no longer use these systems [Android], we will be ready and have our plan B,” Yu said in the interview.
A previous US ban on Chinese telecommunications equipment maker ZTE from using American products and services served as a reality check for China’s technology ambitions. Google’s Android and Apple’s proprietary iOS have a stranglehold on smartphone operating systems, accounting for 99.9 per cent of the global market, according to Gartner estimates last year.
“Huawei does have backup systems but only for use in extenuating circumstances. We don't expect to use them, and to be honest, we don't want to use them,” said a Huawei spokesperson on Thursday. “We fully support our partners' operating systems – we love using them and our customers love using them. Android and Windows will always remain our first choices.”
(Excerpt) Read more at scmp.com ...
There has been a long line of developers and operating systems seeking to break the current Smartphone duopoly.
Here are some:
Microsoft with its Windows Mobile OS,
Samsung Electronics with its Tizen system
Nokia’s Symbian platform
BUT: Android and Apple’s iOS still have a virtual duopoly today.
UUUHHH!! I want that in my cell phone. /s
How much of Huawei’s OS is reverse-engineered Android code?
Useless without access to Android app stores
It’s future android OS’s
I believe everything a CCP compeny says LOL!
I’m not sure what that meant.
There are others. Firefox OS for mobile, Ubuntu, and a few others I know of but cannot recall off the top of my head. Sony-Ericcson had one that pre-dated iOS and Android, and of course Blackberry has one too. All are, afaik, dead or defunct or dying on the vine.
The main problem with the older ones is that they are out of date. The problem with the newer ones is that they are open source. The problem with open-source is lack of profit motive for a developer and a lack of stability for the user.
Users want to know that it will work and that all their apps will work. There are other larger interests at play - government doesn’t want an open source OS to take off. Linux failed; and only succeeded when Google made their proprietary version of Android (which they bought and then improved). Linux itself flopped as a consumer product and really only took off when someone (ie. Red Hat) customized it, branded it, and then went on to build and enable others to build specialized apps for small market niches where they could make a profit.
The reality is anyone can get an open source version of Android and put it on a device. The problem is it won’t be perfectly compatible with all the apps, may not work with all devices or bluetooth, etc. With open source, no profit incentive, so no incentive for long term development.
Windows 10 might be 3rd place behind Android and iOS, or maybe 4th place but it’s so far behind I am hard pressed to think of who would be 3rd or 4th. Blackberry switched to a proprietary version of Android that runs most Android apps but they are sucking wind.
I wish to be freed from the walled gardens of Google and Apple but we’ll have to wait. I’m very unlikely to ever buy Hauwei’s OS.
[The reality is anyone can get an open source version of Android and put it on a device. The problem is it won’t be perfectly compatible with all the apps, may not work with all devices or bluetooth, etc. With open source, no profit incentive, so no incentive for long term development.]
Fixed it.
Oh, me too! LOL. Like I would ever trust something from them.
Good luck with that...
Microsoft 8.1/10 was and is still the best ever. Had the best user interface and integrated seamlessly with your Win tablet, desktop or laptop. Too bad they abandoned it. Head and shoulders better than anything Apple or Android has ever created. The Chinese should buy it from MS and stick it in their phones. I’d buy one to replace my 5 y/o MS/Nokia.
“their own”
Well, yeah - but anyone who uses Google in any form should understand that it is coupled to the American state security system.
Which entity do you think is more interested in tracking your Second Amendment-related FR posts?
It's really all about access to the Google Play store - not the base Android OS.
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