The media has been supporting Huawei amid tough days that have seen American companies and their allies distance themselves from the Chinese technology corporation. For the most part, the ban has not augured well with millions of people who have come to trust the quality of Huawei devices, as well as larger businesses such as mobile operators that have invested heavily in Huawei equipment.
The most devastating blow hit the corporation a week ago when Google, the search giant that owns Android reported it was cutting ties with Huawei. To put this in context, Huawei phones and tablets are powered by Android, so the ban implies that future devices will not ship with the mobile operating system, effectively starving the market Huawei had already conquered (it is the second largest manufacturer of mobile phones after Samsung). Should the ban remain, then the world will see millions of Huawei smartphone orphans that can be served by other devices – but shouldn’t they have a choice too?
Well, trade wars are complex than what is revealed to the masses. This is why Huawei has been developing an alternate mobile OS as it is said it anticipated this ban would happen. The development is not a surprise because manufacturers such as Samsung have been toying with the same idea, having released smartphones and smartwatches powered by their in-house mobile OS aka Tizen.
Apparently, Huawei’s Android Kinda Replacement OS will hit the market before the year ends. Another word reports that the new OS will come sooner than that, probably in the next couple of weeks. Others, especially folks within the confines of Huawei offices say that the OS is not ready for mass roll out. The confusing messages are amplified by lack of a consistent name, although it appears that the corporation has settled on Ark OS.
– Huawei CEO to China: New OS coming this fall
– Huawei CEO to US: New OS poses challenges
– Huawei internal sources: OS nowhere near ready
– Huawei Middle East: New OS launches next monthPick one.
— Stephen Hall (@hallstephenj) May 28, 2019
According to Android Headlines, Huawei has already patented Ark OS in Europe if word from the European Union Intellectual Property Office is anything to go by. No further details have been divulged, so there is no way to tell which devices Ark OS will serve should it see light of day. We will get back to you as we learn more.
[…] this may be the last public test on an Android build as Huawei is building its own OS. Hopefully, the trade issues get resolved […]
[…] If the trade ban continues, Huawei will not be able to update devices to Android 10 Q and if it does, users lose Google’s services and apps. The company has been reportedly making its own Android replacement. […]
[…] The chairman continued saying that Huawei is yet to negotiate directly with the US government and is waiting to see how the Google negotiations pan out. If it doesn’t turn out well, they’ll be forced to accelerate the development of their Android OS replacement. […]
[…] trade agreements don’t go well and restrictions continue, Huawei will have to go forth with their own OS and design new chipsets for their future […]
[…] restrictions on Huawei if takks with China advance.The company is also working on it’s own OS – HongMeng/Ark OS that it has tested with it’s own devices plus devices from VIVO, OPPO, Xiaomi and Tencent. The […]