In a potential shift in strategy, Google may soon restrict access to the Android operating system, which could compel Chinese application developers to transition to Huawei’s Harmony OS. Reports from Android Authority have indicated that after 16 years of open-source development, Google is considering major changes to Android, possibly moving towards a closed-source model. Such a transition could signify that Android will no longer be freely accessible.
The Android Open Source Project (AOSP), developed by Google under the Apache License 2.0, allows users to utilize, distribute, and modify the operating system without incurring any licensing fees. This open structure has facilitated the extensive adoption of AOSP, leading to the emergence of custom skins like Samsung’s One UI.
Google maintains two key branches of Android: the public AOSP and a private internal branch tailored for companies holding Google Mobile Services (GMS) licensing agreements. While AOSP is available for public use, ongoing conflicts and resource management challenges have led Google to consider consolidating development under the internal branch, which would make the Android operating system less accessible.
Recent reports confirm that Google’s future development of Android will be entirely private. For average users, this change may have a limited immediate impact; however, app developers could face significant challenges. Shifting from an open-source to a closed-source model would restrict their access to operating system updates, thereby complicating the application development process.
Despite these changes, GMS partners will still retain access to research and contribute to the Android ecosystem. Nonetheless, Chinese developers may face additional hurdles, as many in the community have expressed concern that this shift could lead to higher development costs and increased difficulty in creating applications.
Given the current US-China technology tensions, Google’s decision to limit Android’s openness may inadvertently favor Huawei. Since being blacklisted by the US government, Huawei has developed its own HarmonyOS, reducing its reliance on Android and successfully attracting numerous Chinese developers, which has enriched its application ecosystem.
A representative from a Chinese app development company mentioned a transition toward Huawei app development, citing Google’s move as a potential boost for HarmonyOS’s popularity. Since the introduction of the iPhone with iOS in 2007, Google has invested significant resources in developing open-source software, a key factor contributing to Android’s status as the world’s most widely used mobile operating system. Currently, Android powers over 2.5 billion active devices, including smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs, and holds more than 71% of the global operating system market share, according to StatCounter.
