“Based on our analysis, for the Harmony ecosystem to be mature in meeting consumer needs, 100,000 apps is the milestone, and that is the key objective over the next six to 12 months,” Xu said in a speech posted on the WeChat messaging app.
China’s Huawei, which is currently battling U.S. sanctions, has set an ambitious target of hosting 100,000 applications on its Harmony operating system (OS) within the next year. Huawei’s HarmonyOS app target was announced by the company’s Chairman Xu Zhijun at a recent conference. This is as Huawei is seeking widespread plan to achieve self-reliance.
(Image Credit: huawei
Xu Zhijun said that while more than 15,000 Harmony-based apps are already available for basic consumer needs, there is a need for more personalized and boutique apps. According to the tech giant’s Chairman, the ecosystem requires more personalized and boutique apps.
Huawei’s HarmonyOS 100, 000 apps target
“Based on our analysis, for the Harmony ecosystem to be mature in meeting consumer needs, 100,000 apps is the milestone, and that is the key objective over the next six to 12 months,” Xu said in a speech posted on the WeChat messaging app.
Xu also invited developers to enrich application offerings, as well as encourage government agencies, state companies, and social organizations to adopt Harmony as their operating system.
The ambitious HarmonyOS apps growth target highlights the urgency in developing home-grown technologies. This is as China faces elevated tensions with the U.S. in areas ranging from trade to technology as President-elect Donald Trump threatens to be tougher on China.
U.S. sanctions on Huawei
Huawei launched its operating system five years ago after U.S. sanctions cut off support for Google’s Android. The Shenzhen-based company, which sells products ranging from smartphones to laptops, later developed an open-source version of the Harmony system.
With the U.S. sanctions, “Huawei has been forced to accelerate developing its own operating system,” Xu said. Although much progress has been made, “for any operation system, no matter how advanced it is, it would be of no value if no one uses it.”
Huawei wants impossible possible
Huawei unveiled Harmony in August 2019, three months after U.S. placed it under trade restrictions over alleged security concerns. The company denies its equipment poses a risk.
“No way back leads to victory,” Xu said. “Huawei will unwaveringly invest in developing the Harmony ecosystem, and strive to make the impossible possible.”
The initiative underscores Huawei’s strategy to reduce dependence on foreign technology while overcoming challenges posed by sanctions.
Huawei HarmonyOS apps offerings
Xu expressed hope that developers could work hard to enrich app offerings and called on government agencies, state companies and social organizations to use Harmony as their operating system at work.
Xu wants consumers to be tolerant of the Huawei Harmony OS’s immaturity, saying, “The more people use it, the more quickly it will become mature.”
Road ahead for Huawei
Huawei’s efforts to expand its app ecosystem align with broader efforts in China to achieve technological independence. This move reflects a strategic response to escalating U.S.-China tensions, particularly in technology and trade. Achieving the 100,000-app goal would signify a major step forward in Huawei’s vision for HarmonyOS. It would transform it into a competitive alternative in the global tech landscape.
