Huawei launches HarmonyOS Next: A step towards independence in the mobile sector

Huawei Technologies is preparing to unveil its highly anticipated, self-developed mobile operating system, HarmonyOS Next, which is intended to serve as an alternative to Apple's iOS and Google's Android. This initiative aims to establish a Chinese mobile ecosystem and stimulate the domestic technology sector—a strategically significant move in light of ongoing US sanctions. The new operating system will be available on Huawei's Mate 60 series, the foldable Mate X5 smartphone, and the MatePad Pro tablet. HarmonyOS Next is described as being developed entirely independently and will no longer support Android-based applications, earning it the nickname "purebred" HarmonyOS in China. In recent months, Huawei has made active efforts to attract Chinese app developers to the new operating system. This initiative took the form of a "pledge of allegiance," involving major tech companies such as Baidu, JD.com, Meituan, and Tencent Holdings. A total of over 10,000 native applications and services have reportedly been developed for HarmonyOS Next. The launch of HarmonyOS in 2019 was a direct response to the US government's trade restrictions that cut Huawei off from American technologies. The operating system has gained significant traction in the Chinese smartphone market, surpassing Apple's iOS in market share this year, while Android maintains its position as the market leader. With the imminent launch of HarmonyOS Next, Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of the company founder, is taking the lead in Huawei's rotating chairmanship and preparing for the introduction of the next 5G flagship series, the Mate 70.