This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
July 19, 2019, marked a significant turning point in the US-China trade spat, with China's largest technology company, Huawei, facing uncertainty over its future after being given the boot by its key partner, US-based Google.
As the situation unfolded, Huawei's Android future became a topic of concern, with the company being the second-biggest device maker and seller on the Android platform.
However, in a recent development, President Donald Trump's declaration during the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, that US companies are free to supply Huawei with crucial parts and software did not amount to a blanket removal of the company from the Department of Commerce's 'Entity List.'
This led to speculation over whether Huawei would ditch Android and go its own way, with the company's senior vice president and board member, Catherine Chen, seeking to allay concerns by stating that Hongmeng OS is not meant for smartphones.
Speaking in Brussels, Belgium, Chen clarified that Hongmeng OS will only be used for industrial applications and, specifically, the Internet of Things (IoT).
Despite this declaration, the uncertainty surrounding Huawei's Android future remains, with the company continuing to develop its in-house operating system, Hongmeng OS, which has been referred to by various monikers, including Ark and Harmony.
