No Android? How It’s Going for Huawei

It all started in 2019 when Google cut off Huawei’s Android license, causing a lot of havoc for the phone maker. Reuters was the first to report the news confirming that Google had suspended business with Huawei.

In the last decade, phones have become more than just a communication device. We see smartphones being used for all kinds of conveniences, from accessing your favorite games to shopping and reviewing some foot pics on sites such as https://www.we-heart.com/2023/08/08/foot-fetish-sites/. The list is endless. The Android OS has made this easier for its users.

A Google spokesperson mentioned that they were complying with an order that they received from the US Commerce Department. This meant Huawei was put on a list of companies that couldn’t buy any form of technology from US companies without any government approval.

The older Huawei devices weren’t affected by the changes, as most of them still use the Android OS. For its new devices, Huawei was restricted to using Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which meant some Google apps and services were cut off. Huawei then developed HarmonyOS.

Harmony OS

HarmonyOS is considered the next-gen operating system that was created to run on a wide range of smart devices. It works by enabling smart devices to communicate in the same language. This means it can facilitate better collaboration and communication while bringing simple, continuous, and reliable interaction.

Recently, Huawei announced that they were releasing the latest version of the mobile operating system, which was AI assistant enhanced. The 2019 sanctions on the company crippled the smartphone business globally. They were cut off from using technologies such as semiconductors, like software and 5G chips.

The latest development of the operating system HarmonyOS shows that the company has the ambition to regain strength in its business. The new version is known as HarmonyOS 4.

Market Share 

The corporation has concentrated heavily on regaining market share, particularly in China, since 2019. The market share climbed from 7.35% in the first quarter of 2022 to 13%; thus, there has been some success. In order to compete in the premium smartphone market, Huawei has improved its strategy.

According to IDC, in the second quarter, Huawei’s market share jumped to 18.4%.

The smartphone company continues to produce more high-end products, such as its Mate X3 foldable and P60, which were released this year. Huawei has managed to procure 5G chips domestically. Undoubtedly, 5G is a next-gen internet technology for high-end smartphones. The network promises faster internet speeds. Huawei has been missing out on these features because of sanctions by the US.

Huawei’s Promise

As the company slowly comes back to life, the tech giant promises that the new HarmonyOS will be more intelligent, giving users a more personalized experience. They also mentioned that the operating system is already active on more than 700 million devices, including watches, smartphones and tablets.

Huawei also mentioned that the new version comes with an AI voice assistant called Celia, providing some amazing assistant features for smart devices. The company also mentioned that more than 200 million mobile users are interacting with Celia already monthly. Celia is also allowing its users to use texts, pictures and documents to gain the information they need. Celia can also perform tasks such as writing summaries, translating and creating official documents.

Huawei Continues to Struggle in the Overseas Market

The Huawei Market continues to be confined more to China. According to IDC, 89% of their handsets are shipped to China. The main reason is believed to be that Huawei devices lack major apps that people outside of China prefer to use. The lack of key features has resulted in more people switching to other brands.