28-01-2025
Huawei's Google-Free Phones Are Making Real Progress
Huawei Technologies Co.'s ambition in consumer devices over the past year has been to decouple from Alphabet Inc.'s Android software entirely, culminating with the launch of its made-in-China HarmonyOS Next alongside the Mate 70 smartphone in December. It's the most substantial attempt at building a third mobile ecosystem, outside of Apple Inc.'s iPhone empire and the Google-led Android confederation, and it builds on the company's considerable reach, resources and nearly a billion existing users in China.
HarmonyOS got its start in 2019 when US trade restrictions barred Huawei from doing regular business with the likes of Google. After years of relying on the open-source Android infrastructure — and thus maintaining compatibility with Android apps — Huawei is striking out on its own and hoping to bring major service and software providers along for the ride. It's an existential matter for the company's consumer business, as the US president who initiated sanctions on the company has returned for a second term, offering little prospect of relief.
