Huawei’s first devices powered by HongMeng OS said to launch in 2019

Since Huawei was put on the United States tech blacklist earlier this year, the Chinese company has been forced to look towards operating system alternatives to Google’s Android OS.

At the time of the blacklisting, the company already had its own operating system in development in case of such a situation. In fact, in May of this year, the operating system officially got a name, HongMeng OS.


According to China-based media outlet Global Times, a smartphone powered by HongMeng OS could hit the market as early as Q4 of this year. This device will allegedly be “targeting low- and medium-end markets” and will be priced at about $288.24 (over P14,900).

The very first devices to be powered by the Huawei operating system, however, will purportedly be Honor smart TVs, set to launch on Aug. 10.

As part of the company’s long-term plans for the OS, they intend to use HongMeng to power autonomous driving systems, remote medical services, and industrial control technology.

The first smartphone with HongMeng OS is expected to make its appearance with the Huawei Mate30 series when it launches in Q4 of this year. HM/NVG

source: technology.inquirer.net

Huawei’s own OS system may be ready this year, says report

Chinese telecom giant Huawei said it could roll out its own operating system for smartphones and laptops in China by autumn after the company was blacklisted by the United States, as per a report on Thursday, May 23.

According to Richard Yu, head of Huawei’s consumer business, the international version of the system could be ready in the first or second quarter of 2020.


The company dealt a blow this week with Google’s decision to partially cut off Huawei devices from its Android OS, following a U.S. order banning the transfer of American technology to the firm.

“In Huawei, we are still committed to Microsoft Windows and Google Android,” Yu told CNBC. “But if we cannot use that, Huawei will prepare the plan B to use our own OS.”

The platform, known as “HongMeng,” is undergoing trials and will gradually replace the Android system, reported the Global Times on Monday, May 20.

“We don’t want to do this but we will [be] forced to do that because of the U.S. government. I think the US, this kind of thing, will also not only be bad news for us but also bad news for the U.S. companies because we support U.S. businesses,” Yu said. “We don’t want to do this but we have no other solution, no other choice.”

The U.S. Commerce Department, which added Huawei and its 68 affiliates to an “entity list” last week, announced a 90-day reprieve which allowed some services to continue on Monday, May 20. HM/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net