Earlier today, Thursday, 23rd May 2019, new reports emerged that suggest that Huawei may roll out its own operating system for its devices later this year. This follows the United States’ ongoing blacklist and restrictions.
Google temporarily suspended its services with Huawei following the order from the US government. This ban included the sale and transfer of American technology to the firm. There has, however, been a 90-day temporary reprieve on the ban to allow Huawei and some other companies continue buying from the US without restrictions.
The head of Huawei’s consumer business, Richard Yu said:
“Today, Huawei, we are still committed to Microsoft Windows and Google Android. But if we cannot use that, Huawei will prepare the plan B to use our own OS.”
The new platform, called “HongMeng”, will gradually replace the Android operating system on Huawei devices.
Yu, in a media interview, also said:
“We don’t want to do this, but we will be forced to do that because of the US government. I think the US, this kind of thing, will also not only be bad news for us, but also bad news for the US companies because we support US businesses, and we don’t want to do this but we have no other solution, no other choice.”
If Google decides to suspend Huawei from using the Android operating system in the long term, it will be bad for the second biggest smartphone company in the world. It would mean that Huawei phone users will no longer be able to use the Google Play Store.
Microsoft also stopped displaying Huawei’s products on its online store. There are speculations that Microsoft may be next in line to withdraw the Windows OS from the Huawei MateBook X system.
Huawei revealed no further details about this new OS the company may be working on. There are, however, concerns about how they will be able to make it compete with already existing Android. If it will be able to match the versatility and human experience Google Playstore already provides.
This US ban may also affect the functionality of the OS. ARM, which is the biggest chip company in the world, may also cut ties with Huawei. Doing this may make the software unusable. This would mean Huawei has more work on its hands in trying to manufacture their own chips without infringing on ARM Intellectual Property.