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Chinese tech giant Huawei has launched its first smartphone equipped with an entirely proprietary operating system, AFP reports.
The majority of mobile phones currently run Apple's iOS and Google's Android, but Huawei is looking to change that with its latest Mate 70 devices, which run the company's own HarmonyOS Next.
The launch marks a significant turnaround in the fortunes of Huawei, which has been clipped by debilitating US sanctions in recent years but has since recovered and boosted sales.
"The search for a viable, scalable mobile operating system that is largely free from the control of Western companies has been ongoing in China," said Paul Triolo, China partner and head of technology policy at consultancy Albright Stonebridge Group.
"The new smartphone, which is also powered by an advanced locally made chip, shows that Chinese tech firms can persevere," Triolo said.
"Today, the long-awaited Mate 70, the most powerful ever, is here," announced Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's Consumer Business Group.
According to the firm's online shopping platform, more than 3 million pre-orders have been placed, although this does not require them to be purchased.
The risks are great - unlike the previous iteration, based on Android's open source, HarmonyOS Next requires a complete overhaul of all apps on the smartphones it powers. | BGNES
