Huawei desires a long-term focus exclusively on HarmonyOS

The Chinese tech giant Huawei recognizes the significance of the HarmonyOS operating system and wishes to allocate most of its efforts to this system.

Despite facing U.S. sanctions, Huawei Technologies is forging ahead. The tech giant, based in Shenzhen, is escalating its investments in its indigenous operating systems, HarmonyOS and EulerOS, targeting self-sufficiency and fostering an expansive ecosystem.

Huawei's commitment to HarmonyOS has been unwavering since the U.S. embargo. In a recent dialogue with Liu Yadong, the previous editor-in-chief of Science and Technology Daily, Ren Zhengfei, Huawei’s founder and CEO, expressed an undeterred optimism. Chinese media widely reported Ren's belief that, regardless of the forthcoming challenges, Huawei is set for even greater prosperity.

Following its addition to the U.S. blacklist in 2019, Huawei has systematically reduced its reliance on U.S.-sourced technology. The company has been channeling resources into HarmonyOS, a multifaceted operating system developed for mobile and Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, as well as EulerOS, tailored for enterprise servers. Ren stated the company's dedication to these platforms is so profound that it is set to "allocate tens of thousands of workforce and billions in capital annually."

Huawei desires a long-term focus exclusively on HarmonyOS

What distinguishes Huawei is its approach to sharing its operating systems with collaborators. In China alone, HarmonyOS is integrated into more than 30 different operating systems and boasts a staggering 600 million users. This strategy is bearing fruit as numerous industry partners transition to Huawei’s cloud service, subsequently expanding its ecosystem.

For many, U.S. sanctions might be perceived as a stumbling block, but Ren sees them as a catalyst for creativity and innovation. He emphasizes the importance of drawing lessons from the U.S., especially in foundational research and talent cultivation.

Huawei's robust investment in its proprietary operating systems reflects more than just a will to persevere amid economic constraints. It underscores a broader vision: to emerge as a leading force by cultivating its unique ecosystem. It remains to be seen if this strategy will be the panacea for its challenges. Yet, it's evident that Huawei is placing substantial bets on its in-house technology.