Currently, the tech giant has over 15,000 applications based on Harmony that cater to essential consumer needs; however, Huawei Chairman Xu Zhijun emphasized the necessity for more specialized and niche applications during a conference on Saturday.
"Our analysis indicates that reaching 100,000 applications is crucial for the Harmony ecosystem to effectively meet consumer demands, and this is our primary goal for the next six to twelve months," Xu stated in a speech shared on the WeChat messaging platform.
This ambitious target underscores the urgency of advancing domestic technologies amid rising tensions with the U.S. in various sectors, including trade and technology, particularly as President-elect Donald Trump signals a tougher stance on China.
Huawei introduced its operating system five years ago after U.S. sanctions severed its access to Google's Android. The Shenzhen-based firm, which produces a range of devices from smartphones to laptops, subsequently created an open-source version of the Harmony system.
Xu noted that due to U.S. sanctions, "Huawei has had to expedite the development of its own operating system." He acknowledged the progress made but added, "No operating system, regardless of its sophistication, holds value if it lacks users."
He expressed optimism that developers would enhance the app ecosystem and urged government bodies, state enterprises, and social organizations to adopt Harmony as their operating system for operational use.
Xu also encouraged consumers to be patient with the system's current limitations, stating, "The more it is utilized, the faster it will mature." Huawei launched Harmony in August 2019, shortly after being placed under trade restrictions by Washington due to alleged security issues, which the company firmly denies.
Xu stated, "There is no turning back on the path to victory. Huawei is committed to investing in the development of the Harmony ecosystem and will work tirelessly to turn the impossible into reality."