Huawei’s founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei have called on Chinese technicians to turn the company into a major software force to counter the effects of US technology sanctions. In an internal memo viewed by Reuters, Ren said the focus should be on Huawei’s software because the industry is “outside of US control and we will have greater independence and autonomy.”
Huawei is currently unable to produce most of its hardware products due to a ban on U.S. companies doing business with it. The company equipped chips and components to reduce restrictions, but stocks are limited and, in some cases, will quickly become obsolete. Huawei is also blocked from using Google apps and services on its smartphones. The Biden administration hasn’t suggested that it will reverse any of the Trump-era sanctions. However, the US has eased off its moves against other Chinese companies like Xiaomi and TikTok.
Due to this climate, Ren told employees that it would focus on software, including Huawei Mindspore, its Cloud AI platform, and its Harmony operating system for various devices. The company is said to be planning to compete in major markets other than the US. “Once we dominate Europe, the Asia Pacific and Africa, if US standards don’t match ours, and we can’t enter the US, then the US can’t enter our territory,” Ren wrote, according to Reuters.
It may not be too long before an important part of Huawei’s software strategy is released. Today, the company posted a promotional image on WeChat, teasing the announcement of major harmonies for June 2nd. The operating system is not yet launched on smartphones; the initial focus is on IoT devices and TVs after its initial release.
