14 DAY TRIAL // Huawei is facing increasing pressure from both the United States and its allies due to what they describe as cyberespionage for the Chinese government, and although no strong evidence has been produced so far, the company is already looking into backup plans should things get ugly.
In a recent interview with German publication Die Welt, Huawei’s mobile chief Richard Yu Chengdong revealed that the Chinese company had developed its very own operating system for both smartphones and computers, which would technically make it possible to replace Android and Windows at any moment.
This is because Huawei is afraid that the growing tension in the United States could lead to sanctions similar to those against ZTE, the company that ended up banned from using parts and services from American firms.
Plan B
And because both Android and Windows are developed in the United States, Huawei’s backup plan is to replace both with its own operating system that can run on the company’s smartphones and PCs.
“We have prepared our own operating system, if it turns out we can no longer use these systems [Android], we will be ready and have our plan B,” the Huawei official said.
South China Morning Post quotes a Huawei spokesperson as confirming that this operating system does exist, only that the company doesn’t believe it would ever use it.
“Huawei does have backup systems but only for use in extenuating circumstances. We don't expect to use them, and to be honest, we don't want to use them,” the spokesperson explained. “We fully support our partners' operating systems – we love using them and our customers love using them. Android and Windows will always remain our first choices.”
For the time being, however, Huawei doesn’t seem to be in a position that would lead to a ban similar to ZTE’s, as the company keeps denying all spying accusations and calls for governments to provide evidence that it’s working for Beijing. No country, however, provided proof such spying is indeed happening.