HarmonyOS will be rolled out to selected smartphone models, giving users the opportunity to switch from Google's Android platform.
For Huawei HarmonyOS means it will no longer be reliant on Android, a relationship that had been ‘hobbled’ by Google being banned from providing technical support to new Huawei phone models or Huawei having access to Google Mobile Services.
According to Huawei, the HarmonyOS is an 'Internet-of-Things' platform which aims to operate on and connect devices such as laptops, smartwatches, cars and appliances and it has unveiled a number of new products using the new operating system including a tablet and a smart watch.
Huawei has big ambitions for HarmonyOS and wants to see it on 200 million smartphones and 100 million third-party smart devices by the end of the year.
Sanctions have had a severe impact on Huawei which has tumbled down the smartphone league table dropping from the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer to a poor number six, accounting for just 4 per cent of the overall market.
It now appears that Huawei’s focus has shifted out of necessity. While it will continue to play in the smartphone space it looks like the company is now focusing on systems to’ bridge the gap’ between devices and improving overall connectivity which will mean working with makers of non-smartphone devices.
