logo
Can Huawei break the Mac-Windows duopoly?

Can Huawei break the Mac-Windows duopoly?

The Star14-05-2025

IN the latest sign that US attempts to choke Huawei Technologies Co are only strengthening it, the Chinese tech giant will next week release its first line of personal computers (PCs) powered by the homegrown HarmonyOS operating system (OS).
The move to challenge the global duopoly overseen by Microsoft Corp's Windows and Apple Inc's MacOS was not by choice.
Huawei's licence to run Windows on PCs expired in March, and America's blacklisting makes it difficult for US firms to continue to do business with it.
Instead of succumbing to Washington's squeeze, Huawei has invested heavily in the nearly impossible task of creating an entirely new software ecosystem from scratch.
It will be an uphill battle for HarmonyOS to make a dent, both in China and globally.
The first computers run by Windows or MacOS were released in the 80s and are the foundation – and essentially only options – for most applications and services that PC users rely on.
The diffusion and adoption of a new operating system doesn't happen overnight.
But if Huawei can succeed in getting developers on board, it has a shot at providing the first real alternative to this two-party standard and offering a Chinese alternative that could eventually erode the long-term influence of Silicon Valley.
The new PCs follow the remarkable gains made by Huawei's OS for mobile over the past couple of years, unseating Apple's iOS in domestic market share at a rapid clip.
In early 2023, HarmonyOS's operating system had just 8% of the mobile market in China, compared to the 72% held by Alphabet Inc's Google-backed Android and iOS's 20%, according to Counterpoint Research.
In the last quarter of 2024, however, HarmonyOS commanded 19% – surpassing iOS's 17% and pushing Android's share down to 64%.
There are other elements on its side.
Huawei's homegrown OS aligns with President Xi Jinping's goal of tech self-sufficiency, meaning it can likely count on government support to boost adoption.
China has a vast domestic market, which means there's less pressure on Huawei to rely on the United States or foreign consumers as it works out any kinks.
The trade war is pressuring many Chinese to back domestic brands over American alternatives.
Huawei's hardware empire also gives it a built-in userbase to tap. The company's strength still largely lies in mobile devices, but it was second only to Lenovo in PC market share in China last year.
Still, headaches were reported with the mobile version, especially related to accessing certain apps that were specifically built for Android or iOS.
Splashy demo videos make the first such PC look like a sleek MacBook, but it's going to take years for programmers to build out all the applications and products users have grown accustomed to, from Microsoft's Office suite to Mac's FaceTime.
By far the biggest challenge, across all devices, remains convincing developers to get on board.
China's vast pool of engineers gives it an advantage, but Huawei must aggressively incentivise them to build services specifically for HarmonyOS.
It has made some strides. Huawei says that the first lineup of these PCs has built-in artificial intelligence (AI) features, including DeepSeek-powered apps.
State-backed media has reported that they have more than 150 dedicated applications, as well as being compatible with a range of popular Chinese platforms available on mobile.
In its annual report last year, Huawei said that over a billion devices – including phones, tablets and smartwatches – are already running HarmonyOS.
And Huawei has previously signalled global ambitions for its operating system, coinciding with its devices' increasing popularity across South-East Asia and emerging markets.
A lot of attention has been paid to Huawei's rise in the hardware sector, and specifically its advances in chipmaking for AI applications.
US efforts to ban advanced semiconductors from China have no doubt slowed AI ambitions. But they have also accelerated Beijing's development of a domestic and self-sufficient ecosystem.
Most recently, America's bar on Nvidia Corp's H20 chips has been criticised for redirecting demand and money toward Huawei's alternatives. The proliferation of Huawei's HarmonyOS now makes it clear that we're seeing a similar scenario play out in China's software sector.
Washington should assess how its policies have resulted in Huawei growing into the behemoth it is today.
The ramifications extend far beyond potential impacts to US businesses.
In an increasingly bifurcating tech world, Beijing could eventually end up setting the norms and standards that the rest of the world adopts, whether that's in AI or operating systems. — Bloomberg
Catherine Thorbecke is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asia tech. The views expressed here are the writer's own.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Chinese vice Foreign Minister to attend Asean SOM in Malaysia, eyes deep regional consensus
Chinese vice Foreign Minister to attend Asean SOM in Malaysia, eyes deep regional consensus

The Star

time34 minutes ago

  • The Star

Chinese vice Foreign Minister to attend Asean SOM in Malaysia, eyes deep regional consensus

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. -- Photo: CGTN BEIJING (Bernama): Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong will lead a delegation to attend a series of senior officials' meetings on East Asian cooperation from June 10 to 11 in Penang, Malaysia, aimed at building stronger consensus and enhancing cooperation. In a statement on Monday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said China hopes the meetings will inject positive momentum into regional development. The meetings include the Asean Plus Three Senior Officials' Meeting, the East Asia Summit (EAS) Senior Officials' Meeting, and the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) Senior Officials' Meeting, hosted under Malaysia's Asean chairmanship with the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'. Lin said participating countries were expected to exchange views on advancing cooperation under the respective mechanisms and deliberate on regional and global issues of mutual interest. "China looks forward to having in-depth communication at the SOM meetings to further build consensus, focus on cooperation, and inject more stability and positive energy into regional development,' he said. Lin added that the Penang meetings will prepare the ground for this year's leaders' meetings and foreign ministers' meetings on East Asian cooperation. Malaysia holds the Asean Chairmanship for 2025, with a focus on strengthening regional unity, sustainability and inclusive economic progress. - Bernama

United States and China begin high-level key trade talks in London
United States and China begin high-level key trade talks in London

The Star

time34 minutes ago

  • The Star

United States and China begin high-level key trade talks in London

(FILES) This file handout photograph released by The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs or Swiss Foreign Ministry (FDFA) on May 14, 2025 shows China's Vice Premier He Lifeng (R) gesturing next to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent prior to a meeting to discuss trade relations and tariffs, in Geneva, on May 10, 2025. China and the United States began a new round of trade talks in London on June 9, 2025 Beijing's state media reported, as the world's two biggest economies seek to shore up a shaky truce after bruising tit-for-tat tariffs. The two sides are meeting in the historic Lancaster House, run by the UK Foreign Office, following a first round of talks in Geneva last month. -- AFP LONDON (AFP): China and the United States began a new round of trade talks in London on Monday, Beijing's state media reported, as the world's two biggest economies seek to shore up a shaky truce after bruising tit-for-tat tariffs. The two sides are meeting in the historic Lancaster House, run by the UK Foreign Office, following a first round of talks in Geneva last month. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng was again heading the team in London. Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported the start of the talks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are leading the US delegation, President Donald Trump said Friday. "The meeting should go very well," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told Fox News on Sunday: "We want China and the United States to continue moving forward with the agreement that was struck in Geneva." While the UK government reiterated that it was not involved in the discussions, a spokesperson said: "We are a nation that champions free trade." UK authorities "have always been clear that a trade war is in nobody's interests, so we welcome these talks", the spokesperson added. - Rare earths - The talks in London come just a few days after Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping finally held their first publicly announced telephone talks since the Republican returned to the White House. Trump said Thursday's call reached a "very positive conclusion". Xi was quoted by Xinhua as saying "correcting the course of the big ship of Sino-US relations requires us to steer well and set the direction". Tensions between the two nations have soared, with Trump accusing Beijing of violating a tariff de-escalation deal reached in Geneva in mid-May. "We need China to comply with their side of the deal. And so that's what the trade team will be discussing tomorrow," Leavitt said Sunday. A key issue will be Beijing's shipments of rare earths -- crucial to a range of goods including electric vehicle batteries and which have been a bone of contention for some time. "Rare earth shipments from China to the US have slowed since President Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs in April," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at trading group XTB. "The US wants these shipments to be reinstated, while China wants the US to rethink immigration curbs on students, restrictions on access to advanced technology including microchips, and to make it easier for Chinese tech providers to access US consumers," she added. In April, Trump introduced sweeping worldwide tariffs that targeted China most heavily. At one point, Washington hit Beijing with additional levies of 145 percent on its goods, triggering a tit-for-tat escalation as China's countermeasures on US goods reached 125 percent. In Switzerland, after two days of talks, the two sides agreed to slash their staggeringly high tariffs for 90 days. But differences have persisted, including over China's restrictions on exporting rare earth minerals. The impact was reflected in the latest official export data released Monday in Beijing. Exports to the United States fell 12.7 percent in May from the previous month, with China shipping $28.8 billion worth of goods. This was down from $33 billion in April, according to Beijing's General Administration of Customs. - 'Green channel' - Throughout its talks with Washington, China has also launched discussions with other trading partners -- including Japan and South Korea -- to try to build a united front to counter Trump's tariffs. On Thursday, Beijing and Canada agreed to regularise their channels of communication after strained ties. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese Premier Li Qiang also discussed trade and the fentanyl crisis, Ottawa said. Beijing has also proposed establishing a "green channel" to ease exports of rare earths to the European Union, and fast-tracking approval of some export licenses. China is expected to host a summit with the EU in July, marking 50 years since Beijing and Brussels established diplomatic ties. - AFP

TikTok says to increase investment in Britain
TikTok says to increase investment in Britain

The Sun

time43 minutes ago

  • The Sun

TikTok says to increase investment in Britain

LONDON: TikTok plans to raise its investment in the UK, its biggest community in Europe, with the creation of 500 more jobs, the Chinese-owned social media giant announced Monday. The news coincided with the start of London's Tech Week, which sees British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcoming some of sector's biggest firms. 'TikTok's UK workforce will grow to 3,000 this year with the addition of more than 500 jobs,' the company said in a statement. It added that it was investing in a new London office, set to open next year, and whose size will dwarf its current UK head office. It will take TikTok's investment in UK infrastructure to around £140 million ($190 million), the group said. Around half the UK population, more than 30 million people, use TikTok each month, making it the platform's 'largest user-community in Europe', the statement added. 'Whether through direct investment in jobs and innovation, or the wider economic contribution from millions of British businesses on TikTok, we're pleased to be increasing our investment and presence here in the UK,' said Adam Presser, director of TikTok UK and global head of operations and trust and safety. TikTok has been in the crosshairs of Western governments for years over fears personal data could be used by China for espionage or propaganda purposes. 'What underpins our continued growth is our deep commitment to safety and to creating an enjoyable and secure digital space to sustainably support creators, entrepreneurs and the wider economy, which is why we also invest significantly in safety,' Presser added Monday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store