When it comes to mobile operating systems, there are really only two major options: iOS and Android. Over the past decade, there have been a few different options, but at this point, a majority of those have either fallen by the wayside or are non-existent. So it comes as a bit of surprise that Huawei has allegedly been developing its own smartphone OS.A lot has happened since ZTE was banned from purchasing components from United States-based firms. ZTE is now considered a 'national security risk' to the United Kingdom and may also lose its Android license. As ties between the U.S. and China become stressed, other companies have also come under the scope. More recently, according to the Justice Department, it is now investigating whether Huawei violated U.S. sanctions against Iran. If so, it could face criminal penalties, and it could put the company in a similar situation to ZTE.The OS has reportedly been in development since the U.S. government began investigating the firm back in 2012. The firm not only has an OS for smartphones and tablets but also PCs. The development of the OS was put into motion by Huawei's founder and president, Ren Zhengfei. The OS has yet to see the light of day because it is not as polished as Android and as you might expect, third-party support is lacking.If Huawei were to get cut off from Android and U.S. based manufactures, it would be in a much better position when compared to ZTE, as it does not rely on Qualcomm for its processors and instead manufacturers its own. The firm could also rely on its own OS if push comes to shove. But as of now, they will continue to rely on Google's Android. It will be interesting to see what kind of results are found from the Justice Department's investigation, as it could have a dramatic effect on how Huawei conducts its business in the future.
Source: South China Morning Post via GizmoChina
Source: https://www.neowin.net/news/huawei-has-been-developing-its-own-os-for-smartphones-tablets-and-pcs