Android and iOS have long maintained an unyielding duopoly in the smartphone industry. Yet, as the US-China tech rivalry intensifies, the smartphone industry is shifting. Huawei, the Chinese tech conglomerate, has grappled with US sanctions restricting its access to Google’s Android ecosystem. In response, the company embarked on an ambitious project to develop its own proprietary operating system, HarmonyOS. Can Huawei break free from the established dominance and stake a significant claim in the fiercely competitive Chinese mobile market?
HarmonyOS on the Rise
Initial figures suggest HarmonyOS is carving a niche for itself in China. With a reported 16% market share, Huawei’s operating system is experiencing a surge in popularity. This growth coincides with an increase in Huawei’s smartphone sales figures, indicating a solid alignment between the operating system and hardware sales. The company has stated bold ambitions for HarmonyOS, envisioning a self-sufficient app ecosystem that will create millions of jobs and position HarmonyOS as a formidable player in the mobile landscape.
Lessons from Past Challengers
Huawei’s venture is one of many attempts to dethrone Android and iOS. Tech giants like Microsoft (with Windows Phone), Samsung (with Tizen) and Alibaba (with YunOS) all sought to create viable alternatives. However, these efforts ultimately faltered due to the immense challenges of building and sustaining a new operating system and, most importantly, winning over app developers to cater to their users.
Huawei’s Strategic Play
Huawei is well aware of these past stumbling blocks. The company has launched a concerted push to attract and incentivize app developers. Major domestic companies across video streaming, finance, social media and gaming are now collaborating with Huawei to create HarmonyOS-specific applications. Huawei has forged partnerships with universities to combat the talent gap, offering courses and training programs designed to produce a new generation of HarmonyOS developers. These strategic moves signal Huawei’s determination to overcome the limitations that hindered its predecessors.
Obstacles Along the Way
Despite its momentum, HarmonyOS faces notable challenges. Popular mega-apps like Tencent’s WeChat must still be added to its ecosystem. Additionally, the traditional revenue split model employed by app stores could deter smaller developers, who may find it more appealing to release their apps through platforms like social media giants. Above all, the sheer dominance of Android and iOS remains a daunting hurdle to clear.
HarmonyOS: A Gamble or a Game-Changer?
Huawei’s ability to navigate these challenges will be instrumental in determining HarmonyOS’s trajectory. The geopolitical tensions between China and the US, the state of China’s domestic tech industry and, ultimately, consumer preferences will all play a role in shaping the mobile landscape. The success or failure of HarmonyOS has implications far beyond the realm of smartphones. It could ignite far-reaching shifts in China’s tech ecosystem and influence the global balance of power in mobile technology.
HarmonyOS represents a bold attempt by Huawei to survive US sanctions and reshape the dynamics of China’s mobile market. The operating system’s early gains suggest the company is on an upward trajectory. However, the road ahead is riddled with obstacles, and the outcome is uncertain. Whether Huawei can genuinely challenge the Android-iOS duopoly is a question that will be answered in the years to come. For now, HarmonyOS stands as a testament to both ambition and the inherent uncertainties of the global tech sector.
