Huawei appears to be speeding up the development of its own operating system to replace Android after Google revoking its license last month.
Leaked pictures from the Intellectual Property Office of the European Union allegedly show the first screenshots of the OS, named Ark.
They show some of the settings of the menu, the information of the apps and how to install them.
The company is thought to have filed a patent under the name ‘ARK OS,’ which is now believed to be the Android alternative beg developed by Huawei.
The leaked images come after claims the company’s self-developed system is ‘far from ready’.
Huawei is speeding up the development of its operating system to replace Android following Google’s pulling support for Play Store on Huawei devices. Leaked pictures show the first screenshots of Ark OS, which intends to replace Android
However, the company claims that it could have the Ark running as early as Autumn.
Yu Chengdong, the CEO of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, said the new system would not only work with all Android apps, but also boost their efficiency by 60 per cent, according to Chinese media.
An order from President Trump earlier this month effectively banned technology firms from ‘foreign adversaries’ trading with US companies without approval.
Google then confirmed it would stop supporting Android on Huawei devices, the software which powers the firms’ phones.
This means that new and yet-to-be-released Huawei models would not be able to access Google apps as part of Android, like Google Maps or Youtube.
Android operating system is a central part of Huawei phones.
A source told technology news site The Information however that Huawei’s own system is ‘far from ready’.
Leaked pictures, left, from the Intellectual Property Office of the European Union show the first screenshots of Ark OS. They show some of the settings of the menu, the information of the apps and how to install them. Pictured right, Android’s operating system
They show some of the settings of the menu, the information of the apps and how to install them or even the management of permissions. The company filed a patent under the name ‘ARK OS’
And even if Huawei finalises the system, it would face ‘a much bigger challenge’ to build an entire ecosystem of apps on top of it, according to the source who claimed to be familiar with Huawei’s backup effort called ‘Project Z’.
According to one expert, Huawei would face huge challenges to develop its own system.
Speaking to MailOnline last week, Ben Wood, from the CCS Insight consultancy, said that it was ‘extremely unfortunate timing for such an exciting product’.
The uncertainty of the current situation is damaging for Huawei’s business and the fact that they don’t have clarity further muddies the water for customers.
‘People rely on core Google services like Google maps and not being able to have these applications on devices would present a huge challenge,’ he said.
The US commerce department gave a three-month reprieve, which means Android still provide service and support, including software updates, to existing Huawei handsets.
It is not clear when Ark will be launched but it is unlikely that we will see a new smartphone with ARK OS before the deadline.
A Huawei executive announced the company will roll out its own operating system as early as this autumn, according to reports. The news came after Google revoked its Android license
Last month, telecom firms EE and Vodafone left Huawei out of their line-up of 5G smartphones.
EE said it had chosen to ‘pause’ the sale of Huawei 5G phones amid ongoing tensions between the US and the company.
They also confirmed the Huawei equipment it currently uses in its network infrastructure is in the process of being phased out.
Vodafone also said it would suspend Huawei’s Mate X phone from its 5G line-up because ‘Huawei’s 5G handset is yet to receive the necessary certifications’.
EE chief executive Mark Allera said it will not restart Huawei sales until they are satisfied that the security of its customers is being protected.
The BT-owned telecoms giant said it will be the first operator in the UK to launch the high-speed mobile network, which is expected to offer internet speeds several times that of current generation 4G.
MailOnline has contacted Huawei for comment.