When you pick up your phone, do you just assume it has to be Android or iOS? A homegrown operating system from Guangdong has long outgrown phones—it now connects smartwatches, cars and home appliances.
Guangdong's software industry continues to lead the country, and HarmonyOS is one of its flagship achievements. Today, HarmonyOS is the world's third-largest mobile operating system, with over 1.35 billion devices in the OpenHarmony ecosystem and more than 11 million registered developers—including many from Asia-Pacific economies.
Don't think of it as just a phone system—its real strength is the underlying technology that links a whole range of smart devices. Its standout feature, the distributed soft bus, works like a network of expressways linking devices. A phone, tablet and car connect with a single tap; a video you're halfway through editing can be picked up on another device right where you left off; and navigation on your phone switches seamlessly to the car screen the moment you get in. Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across APEC economies are tapping into this cross-device capability to work more efficiently.
Its microkernel architecture isolates functions in separate containers for greater security and stability. One codebase runs across phones, tablets and large screens—so developers no longer need to build a separate version for each device.
The latest version also comes with an AI agent. Say "Arrange a weekend camping trip," and the agent replies, "Let me set up a camping plan for this weekend." The system then automatically books a parking spot, maps out the route and gets the entertainment ready.
The system isn't just for consumers. OpenHarmony is a digital foundation open to SMEs around the world, including those in the Asia-Pacific. Building on this open base can cut the cost of developing smart hardware by 60 to 70 percent and halve R&D cycles. More than 10,000 developers worldwide are already contributing.
Many SMEs from APEC economies are using this foundation to lower the barriers to smart transformation. They have reached several technology cooperation agreements and are sharing in the gains of open-source technology.
Open collaboration, digital benefits for all. Guangdong's digital technology is helping Asia-Pacific SMEs share in the dividends of innovation.
Main creators | Li Qian, Guan Xiruyi, Chen Rongwei, Gong Chunhui
Revisors | Wei Shen, Huang Qini, Liu Lingzhi
