Chinese tech companies begin testing HongMeng OS

Jun 13, 2019 09:37 GMT  ·  By

Huawei is working around the clock to get its Android and Windows replacement ready for launch, and according to a new report, all its efforts are supported by the largest tech firms in China.

Global Times reports that companies like Tencent, OPPO, and VIVO sent employees to Huawei to test the new internally-called HongMeng operating system.

According to recent reports, the platform is referred to as HongMeng, but it could launch as Ark OS. It’s supposed to serve as a universal operating system replacing both Android and Windows, albeit running Android apps has become a priority for the company.

The aforementioned source claims the tests revealed substantial speed increases as compared to the existing version of Android. HongMeng is at least 60 percent faster than Android, the report notes.

Huawei hasn’t provided any specifics as to when the operating system could launch publicly, with Shao Yang, the chief strategy officer of Huawei's business consumer group, describing the release date as “a secret.”

Public launch in the fall

Information that made the rounds last month indicated that HongMeng could be finalized for Chinese devices as soon as this fall, whereas the international debut could take place in 2020.

Meanwhile, Huawei is already struggling following the United States ban. Because it’s no longer allowed to use Android and Windows on its devices, the Chinese tech giant had to push back several devices, including a Windows laptop that was originally projected to launch this week.

According to the executive ban signed by President Donald Trump in May, Huawei can continue to provide updates for devices already on the market, but on the other hand, it is not allowed to launch new products using software or hardware belonging to American companies.

As a result, Huawei is trying to reduce reliance on US-based firms and use more parts from Chinese companies, while at the same time accelerating development of its in-house operating system to replace Android and Windows.