Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Huawei Says It Has a Backup OS In Case It's Cut Off From Android (engadget.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the drastic-times-call-for-drastic-measures dept.

Huawei has built its own operating system for phones, tablets and computers in case tensions between Huawei and the U.S. escalate even further than they already are. "The OS has been rumored for years, but Huawei confirmed its viability with the South China Morning Post, saying it could be used if the company were cut off from Android or Windows," reports Engadget. "It's seen as a last resort, but given the current discord between the U.S. and Huawei, it's not entirely surprising that the company has a plan B." From the report: Huawei began building the OS in 2012, after the U.S. banned Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE from using American products and services. This was reportedly seen as a way to prepare for "worst-case scenarios." Now, with Huawei suing the U.S. government and the U.S. saying it might punish Germany if the country works with Huawei on its 5G networks, those worst-case scenarios might not be too far-fetched. At the moment, this doesn't change much. Android and Windows are still the company's first-choice. "We fully support our partners' operating systems -- we love them and our customers love them," a company spokesperson told South China Morning Post. Still, given the state of the U.S.-Huawei relationship, this contingency plan could be significant.

4 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. Go ahead by qbast · · Score: 3, Insightful

    " Now, with Huawei suing the U.S. government and the U.S. saying it might punish Germany if the country works with Huawei on its 5G networks, those worst-case scenarios might not be too far-fetched." Punish away, but retaliation will come from 27 countries.

    1. Re:Go ahead by Freischutz · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It is more that time that Europe start to understand that the US are not ally

      It's not that Europe does not understand that the US is a sucky ally (and unusually so at the moment), it's that they understand that being the ally of Russia and China is way worse.

  2. Re:Huawei Says It Has a Backup OS In Case It's Cut by e3m4n · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If I was an authoritarian regime looking for a cover story to replace everyones software on their device with something I could control in greatee detail, this would be a good one. In fact why not just roll that social media credit system into the payment apps as well. Surcharges for lower social credit scores, etc. Best of all we made it look like someone elses fault so our people flock to this change.

  3. Man I hate how "OS" has been diluted. by shess · · Score: 3, Insightful

    We've been working so hard on our own OS! It's Android, but with a skin and without a few apps!

    A new Linux OS is out! It's Ubuntu, with a different terminal emulator!

    We wrote 10,000 lines of code, added it to the existing 15 million lines of code, and now we have something new! We're relevant and important!

    In reality, this just makes them on par with a precocious 8th grader.