KUALA LUMPUR — China’s technology leader Huawei is preparing to take on major Western tech companies by launching its first smartphone that runs on a completely homegrown operating system.
As reported by AFP, the launch marks a significant recovery for Huawei, which faced tough US sanctions in recent years but has now seen a resurgence in sales.
With Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android currently used in the vast majority of mobile phones, Huawei aims to change the game with its latest Mate 70 devices, which operate on the company’s proprietary HarmonyOS Next.
The Mate 70 will be revealed at a launch event on Tuesday afternoon at the company’s headquarters in Shenzhen.
Huawei’s online shopping platform indicates that over three million units have been pre-ordered, although this does not guarantee actual purchases.
There are considerable risks involved, as HarmonyOS Next, unlike earlier versions that used Android’s open-source code, necessitates a complete overhaul of all applications on the smartphones it operates.
Huawei has become a focal point in the ongoing technological conflict between Beijing and Washington, with US officials expressing concerns that its equipment might be utilised for espionage on behalf of the Chinese government—claims that Huawei refutes.
Since 2019, US sanctions have severed Huawei’s access to global technology supply chains and American-made components, which significantly impacted its smartphone production.
This conflict is expected to escalate further with the election of Donald Trump as President, who has vowed to impose substantial tariffs on Chinese imports due to what he perceives as unfair trade practices by Beijing. – November 26, 2024