Huawei launches HarmonyOS 2 for smartphones

Chinese telecom giant Huawei on Wednesday officially launched its operating system HarmonyOS 2 for smartphones, providing customers worldwide with a competitive alternative that works on a diverse range of devices.

Screenshot taken on June 2, 2021 shows the online launch ceremony of Huawei's operating system HarmonyOS 2 for smartphones in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province. Xinhua

HarmonyOS, or Hongmeng in Chinese, is an open-source operating system designed for various devices and scenarios. It first launched on Internet-of-Things devices, including wearables and tablets, in August 2019.

Huawei expects the number of devices equipped with HarmonyOS to reach 300 million by the end of 2021, including more than 200 million for Huawei devices.

“We are surrounded by more and more smart devices these days, and are now in a world where all things are connected,” said Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group. “Every single one of us is a part of this fully connected world, as is every device.”

“We look forward to working with more partners and developers to build a thriving HarmonyOS ecosystem,” he said.

Analysts believe that the new operating system, featuring adaptability and openness, will give an impetus to the global smart-device market and offer billions of mobile terminal users worldwide more diversified choices.