Source: Guardian UK
China is planning its own desktop and mobile software to oust imported rivals from Microsoft, Apple and Google.
The unnamed desktop version is due for release in October with its own app store, independent of western companies, with a version for smartphones and tablets due in three to five years.
Chinese authorities hope to displace Google’s Android software, and the many modified open-source versions of Android, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reported via the state-run People’s Post.
Computer technology became an area of mutual suspicion between China and the US after the NSA revelations and a number of cyber security rows, including allegations of state-sponsored hacking and the creation of espionage backdoors in both hardware and software.
China banned Microsoft’s Windows 8 from government computers in May with the majority of computers still running Windows XP, according to the Chinese newspaper, which is no longer supported by Microsoft.
Microsoft also faces a monopoly investigation in China related to Windows and Office.
Ni Guangnan from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, who has been developing the software since March, said that effort was designed to bring China’s software up to par with the country’s technology hardware from companies like Huawei, which powers a significant number of mobile networks through its infrastructure business.
“Creating an environment that allows us to contend with Google, Apple and Microsoft – that is the key to success,” Guangnan said.
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Let’s hope China’s venture into this field is successful and this may bring their rivals down to earth along with their high charges.