We will put this in the ‘just in case’ rumour file because although Huawei’s issue with the US government aren’t over yet they have some powerful and influential folks in their corner, including Google.
If Huawei continue to be unable to use Google’s Android in the future it is now apparent that they have a fledgling competing operating system ready to be deployed. The new OS, called HongMeng OS is apparently a fork of the AOSP Android and will be compatible with all Android apps.
While we knew that HongMengOS had been registered with the Trademark Office of the State Intellectual Property Office of China and approved in May this year it was unclear what would happen in other countries.
Overnight there have been reports that Huawei have submitted trademark applications for their new OS in multiple countries around the world including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Spain, South Korea, Peru, Turkey, the Philippines, and various other European countries — there are far too many to name them all apparently.
The registration information lists ‘HongMeng OS’ as an OS that supports a number of platforms and devices including laptops, smartphones and tablets, smartwatches and other wearables and more.
We expect the smartphone and laptop side of this to be the main ones affected by the US Entity List — there is nothing stopping Huawei from putting HongMeng OS on wearables and smartwatches in the future — after all, there really isn’t any other or better option for Android manufacturers.
Some of us may prefer Huawei products.
Who needs this when we can use iOS and Android.