Huawei desperately throwing together its own version of Android ‘to be ready in months’ following Google ban
Recent reports from China suggest that the software could be called “HongMeng OS” and is intended to replace Android
HUAWEI is working on its own operating system that could be coming out as early as autumn 2019.
This comes as the Chinese company is still reeling after Google announced that it will be limiting some of the Android services that can be used on Huawei phones.
Huawei phones face losing vital features and updates as the Chinese firm becomes blacklisted by the USA.
Google has been forced to cut off important services for Huawei, so this "Plan B" operating system could actually save Huawei from disaster.
The firm apparently started designed its own software in March when threats to its US operations were increasing.
The Sun understands that Google, which develops Android, is unclear over the exact ramifications of the blacklist, and is investigating which services need to be halted.
The quick time frame for the new software is according to a report citing comments in a private WeChat group from Huawei’s consumer business CEO Richard Yu, which revealed.
However Huawei is yet to confirm these plans.
Recent reports from China suggest that the software could be called “HongMeng OS” and is intended to replace Android.
Some other reports suggest that this software has been in development since 2012.
In an interview with German newspaper Die Welt a couple of months back, said: "We have prepared our own operating system. Should it [the ban] ever happen that we can no longer use these systems, we would be prepared.
"That’s our plan B. But of course we prefer to work with the ecosystems of Google and Microsoft."
Google suspended support for Huawei’s Android devices earlier this week so access to critical services will eventually be denied to Huawei users.
These services include Google apps like YouTube, Maps, Chrome, Calendar, Gmail, the Play Store.
The ban will put Huawei at a major disadvantage to its other Android smartphone competitors if it does not create its own software as soon as possible.
Will the Huawei blacklist be permanent?
Here's what you need to know...
- Huawei is the world's second-biggest smartphone vendor, just behind Samsung
- So China has a vested interest in the company being successful
- Trump will have targeted Huawei specifically to hurt China in the ongoing US-China trade war
- As such, Huawei is effectively a trade war hostage
- The good news is that this means Huawei may be de-blacklisted once (or if) the trade war is resolved
- It's relatively easy for Google to restore access to services for a firm like Huawei
- It's also possible that future US administrations might decide to de-blacklist Huawei to improve relations with China
- However, growing spying fears over Huawei's alleged close links with the Chinese government may hamper or halt this process
- There's also no indication that the US-China trade war is coming to a close any time soon
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In other news,the new Huawei P30 Pro was recently caught up in a "spying" controversy thanks to its unique 50x super-zoom feature.
The Chinese tech giant recently vowed to enter the TV market too, with the world's first "5G 8K television".
And, here's everything you need to know about the Huawei Google ban.
What do you think of the Huawei crisis? Let us know in the comments...
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