In the second half of 2023, Huawei announced a major decision at a grand new product launch event: the HarmonyOS NEXT native app will be launched in 2024. Huawei has decided to abandon the solution compatible with the Android ecosystem and fully transform the HarmonyOS native ecosystem application based on the OpenHomeny open source architecture. This decision has sparked concern and heated discussions in the global technology community.
Huawei's self-developed mobile phone operating system has always been the focus and difficulty of domestic and foreign attention. In the context of Android and iOS almost monopolizing the mobile operating system market, creating a new self-developed system is both challenging and full of opportunities. This requires not only technological breakthroughs, but also a complete software ecosystem. However, this daunting task has been met with internal inhibition and resistance in the past.
Returning to the beginning of the controversy, we turn the clock back to Shanghai in 2007. At that time, Shanghai began to vigorously develop technology in the field of semiconductors, paving the way for Shanghai to become a semiconductor manufacturing center. Under a series of policy support and development measures, SMIC and AMEC settled in Shanghai and began to develop the semiconductor equipment manufacturing industry. However, after the development of the manufacturing industry has achieved results, Shanghai has faced challenges in the field of design.
Jiang Shangzhou became a key figure in solving this problem. With his connections in Shanghai, he opened up the state's policy support for Shanghai in the field of microelectronics. Immediately afterwards, he invited Zhang Rujing, Yin Zhiyao and others to join and lead Shanghai to set foot in the field of semiconductor design. However, what can really be challenged in front of European and American countries with global technology monopolies are two important areas: self-developed CPUs and self-developed operating systems.
Chen Rong, one of the "Five Musketeers of Tsinghua University" who had worked for Microsoft in the United States and had been received by the top leaders, walked into Jiang Shangzhou's field of vision. Together with Liu Yiping, Wu Jifeng, Yang Weikang, Ma Qi and others, he founded Cooltech Century Technology Co., Ltd. and started the project of self-developed operating system. Chen Rong is good at operating systems, Liu Yiping is good at software development, and Yang Weikang is a senior consultant at Sharp in Japan. Their aggregation forms a strong team that looks to address the lack of embedded OS technology in Chinese mainland.
Chen Rong and Liu Yiping both studied in the United States and have accumulated a wealth of technology and experience in the world's top companies. They have always had plans to return to China, but they have not been able to find a suitable entry point. As the leader of this team, Ma Qi enthusiastically encouraged them to return to China to start a business together, believing that domestic software talents are scarce and that only by uniting can we create great causes. Ma Qi is also very aware of the differences in scientific and technological information at home and abroad, and he realizes that the most lacking thing in Chinese mainland is embedded operating system technology. Although the project was technically challenging and required significant funding and support, Ma Qi was confident and persuaded the other founders to join the project.
So, under the leadership of Ma Qi, Chen Rong, Liu Yiping and other founders decided to establish Cooltech in Beijing. Cooltech's self-developed operating system was originally named "ZYCO", and later changed its name to "Elastos" open source operating system. This project has attracted the attention and support of experts such as Academician Ni Guangnan. They consider the project to be feasible and innovative, as well as the high level of technology.
However, at the end of 2002, Cooltech encountered a technical bottleneck. Jiang Shangzhou approached them and invited them to relocate the company to Shanghai. Due to the alumni relationship between its team members and Jiang Shangzhou, as well as the recognition of their technical prowess, Cooltech decided to accept his invitation and moved to Shanghai in July 2003. Jiang Shangzhou had a wealth of contacts and policy support in Shanghai**, and he took a fancy to Chen Rong and Ketai because of Chen Rong's in-depth study and experience at Microsoft in the United States. However, Cooltech ran into trouble when it came to applying for software copyrights in Shanghai.
The person in charge of the relevant department in Shanghai did not seriously review the materials of Cooltech, and directly returned the application, and said that so many ** must not have been written by Cooltech itself. Chen Rong and Kotai are in an awkward position, but they can't change the situation. As a result, Cooltech's self-developed mobile operating system failed.
Many years later, Chen Rong recalled that experience with a wry smile and said, no matter how good the story is, what is the use of making it and not selling?The technical level of Cooltech's products is not low, and it can even be said that it brings together the advantages of Microsoft and Netscape in the United States. However, due to the factors of the times and internal problems, the entire project ultimately failed.
Back to now, Huawei announced in the second half of 2023 the decision that the HarmonyOS NEXT native app will be launched in 2024. Huawei has decided to abandon the solution compatible with the Android ecosystem and fully transform the HarmonyOS native ecosystem application based on the OpenHomeny open source architecture. This shows that Huawei is firmly committed to developing its own operating system, which it believes is the key to long-term development.
In the current situation where the two major operating systems of Android and iOS monopolize the market, Huawei's decision is undoubtedly a huge challenge and risk. However, Huawei has always believed in the necessity and importance of developing its own operating system. By independently developing its own operating system, Huawei is able to better optimize the combination of hardware and software to provide a better user experience. In addition, Huawei is able to better grasp technology and intellectual property rights to improve its core competitiveness.
Huawei's self-developed operating system, HarmonyOS, has made some progress in the past few years. The HarmonyOS OS is used on multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, smart TVs, and more. Huawei has also established a HarmonyOS developer community with a number of partners to actively promote the construction and development of the HarmonyOS ecosystem.
However, there are still challenges to achieving a complete ecosystem of self-developed operating systems. First, Huawei needs to attract more developers and vendors to join the HarmonyOS ecosystem and provide users with more applications and services. Second, Huawei also needs to solve the compatibility problem with the Android ecosystem to prevent users from losing their original apps and data due to switching to HarmonyOS. Finally, Huawei also needs to improve the stability and security of the HarmonyOS to ensure that users' data and privacy are effectively protected.
In any case, Huawei's determination and efforts to adhere to the self-developed operating system are worthy of recognition. The development of its self-developed operating system is of strategic significance to Huawei, which will not only enhance its core competitiveness, but also demonstrate the strength of China's independent innovation on the international stage. It is believed that with the passage of time, Huawei's HarmonyOS will make greater breakthroughs and achievements.