Huawei is already testing Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), a suite of apps to replace Google Mobile Services (GMS), with Chinese users and developers in its ecosystem. Under these conditions, the firm's alternative solution could land in Europe as early as next year.
Photo credit: Huawei Central
Deprived of an Android license, Huawei has already developed its own alternative to most of Google's apps, including Google Maps, Google Pay and Gmail. The Chinese firm has just begun testing its suite of applications in China, report our colleagues at Huawei Central.
A beta suite, called HMS Core Test,is offered to developers in its ecosystem. Based on this suite, developers will be able to develop applications for Huawei smartphones, including those under Harmony OS. The test version currently contains 6 basic software to unify the development of Huawei's ecosystem:
- Game (a game app)
- Fido-Safety (a Fido security key authentication service)
- Purchase (a service that allows you to shop within an app)
- Identity (a system that verifies a user's identity)
- Scan (a tool for scanning codes)
- ML (a service doped with learging machine and AI)
At the same time, Huawei also tests THE default applications of HMS to users. Among the applications that are offered to users are already known services such as AppGallery (the nascent alternative to the Play Store), or Huawei Browser, Huawei Mobile Cloud, Huawei Themes, Huawei Music, Huawei Video, Huawei Reader or Huawei Assistant. This is the voice assistant known as Xiaoyi in China. In Europe, the assistant will be renamed Celia. Other applications, including the alternative to Google Maps, are not yet integrated as a result.
These services will be accessible via a shortcut on the home screen of the group's future phones. Currently, the beta program to test these alternatives to Google's solutions is only open to Chinese users. Most of the suite's services are already available on the brand's devices all over the world. The test version, intended to replace Google's tools, is therefore distinguished mainly by the HMS Core Test, development kits and improved applications.
Read also: U.S. firm finally allowed to supply chips to Huawei
HMS can operate in parallel with Google's services
According to Huawei Central, it is possible toinstall Huawei Mobile Services on a smartphone already equipped with Google's services. It is not impossible that the firm will eventually decide to deploy its own solution on all its previous smartphones, including the P30 or the Mate 20. Unsurprisingly, the devices marketed by the Honor subsidiary are also affected. Will Huawei integrate HMSs into smartphones expected in 2020, including P40s for example? We'll tell you more as soon as possible.
Source: Huawei Central