Huawei has set no clear-cut timetable for the launch of its own handset operating system, dubbed Hongmeng OS, which could also be known as ARK OS globally, according to the firm's vice chairman Ken Hu.
Hu was cited by Sina Tech News as saying that Huawei has been a firm supporter of Android OS, and that its own Hongmeng OS would be an alternative to be adopted only when the firm has no other choice.
Hu's remarks dismissed speculation that Huawei's new smartphones would carry its own OS. Earlier, Huawei consumer business group CEO Richard Yu said that Hongmeng OS would hit the market in the third quarter of 2019 at the earliest.
Huawei has also confirmed that its four new Glory-branded smartphones including Glory v20 and Glory 20 Lite will feature the latest version of Android OS Q.
Industry sources said that Huawei will use Hongmeng OS as a backup operating system, but the company may highlight OS upgrades as one of its major strategic deployment goals and incorporate it into the Huawei AppGallery ecosystem.
Article translated by Willis Ke
