From chips to operating systems, Huawei's ambition to control the PC industry chain
introduction
For an enterprise, whether it can control the key core technology often determines its position in the industry. In recent years, Huawei has become an industry leader in the smartphone field with its self-developed Kirin chip and HarmonyOS operating system. As the United States has adopted a stricter and stricter ban on Huawei's chips, Huawei's computer business has also faced an embarrassing situation.
Surprisingly, however, Huawei has not backed down. Instead, it launched a new plan for PC chips and operating systems in the hope of taking the lead in the PC field as well. Just three days later, at the summer press conference, Huawei launched its self-developed Kirin 9000C processor and HarmonyOS PC version, attacking the fully localized PC industry chain.
This move undoubtedly marks the expansion of Huawei's ambitions in the PC field. It must not only achieve full control of the PC industry chain through its own chips and operating systems, but also seek new growth points in this field, so as to consolidate its leading position in the field of science and technology.
How will Huawei's plan disrupt the PC industry? What are the deep-seated strategic goals behind it? This article will provide readers with an in-depth analysis from multiple perspectives to present readers with a grand blueprint for Huawei's control of the PC industry chain.
1. Under the chip ban, why can Huawei respond so quickly?
As mentioned in the article, when Intel was banned from selling PC chips to Huawei, Huawei actually launched its self-developed Kirin 9000C processor in just 3 days. The speed of the response is impressive. So, how does Huawei do it?
(1) Layout in advance, and there has been a record early
In fact, Huawei has long foreseen that the United States will take further restrictions on its PC field, so it has been intensively deploying its own chips and operating systems. As early as 2019, Huawei has launched the R&D plan of "HarmonyOS OS" and "Kirin Chip", and has made phased progress.
Specifically, in terms of chips, Huawei's self-developed Kirin 9000C processor has been optimized for the PC field at the beginning of its design. It not only integrates powerful computing power, but also supports a complete PC interface and peripherals, which can completely replace Intel's CPU.
In terms of operating system, Huawei's HarmonyOS not only covers mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, but also launches an exclusive version specifically for PC. This "HarmonyOS PC version" is not only compatible with Windows applications, but also has more open and secure features, and can be seamlessly connected with Huawei's self-developed Kirin 9000C chip.
It can be said that the key reason why Huawei was able to launch a new PC product solution so quickly is that it has been fully prepared and reserved for a long time. As soon as it was hit by the chip ban, it immediately activated the backup plan that had been deployed in advance to counterattack with lightning speed.
(2) Make full use of the advantages of the domestic market
In addition to the advance layout, Huawei's response in the PC field is so agile because of its strong advantages in the domestic market.
As a leader in China's consumer electronics industry, Huawei has a large customer base and a good brand image. Especially in the field of smartphones, Huawei's products have established an excellent reputation in China for their excellent performance and excellent user experience. This has laid a solid foundation for Huawei's success in the PC field.
In addition, Huawei has accumulated abundant supply chain resources and channel advantages. With its dominant position in the smartphone market, it can quickly mobilize the cooperation of the entire industry chain and create favorable conditions for the rapid launch of new PC products on the market.
It can be said that Huawei's dominant position in the domestic market has enabled it to make full use of its existing resources and capabilities to quickly launch new products after encountering the chip ban to proactively respond to market changes. This has also become an important support for Huawei to dare to challenge the international landscape.
In short, the key to Huawei's ability to respond so quickly after the chip ban is that it has long been fully prepared and laid out, and at the same time, it can make full use of its superior resources in the domestic market. This "first-mover advantage" allows it to take the initiative and seize the initiative at critical moments.
Second, the in-depth goals of Huawei's PC strategy
So, why did Huawei take the initiative to invest so much energy in the PC field? What exactly is the strategic goal behind it?
(1) Fully control the PC industry chain and achieve independent control
Undoubtedly, the core goal of Huawei's move is to achieve "autonomy and control" in the PC field.
On the one hand, it wants to completely get rid of its dependence on foreign manufacturers such as Intel through its self-developed Kirin 9000C chip. This can not only avoid the risk of a chip ban, but also give Huawei a dominant position in the PC industry chain.
On the other hand, Huawei also needs to cooperate with the self-developed HarmonyOS PC version to achieve full control of the PC operating system. This not only means getting rid of the shackles of Windows, but also enables Huawei to lead the collaborative innovation of PC software and hardware, and give full play to its own technological advantages.
In general, Huawei's PC strategy is to build a completely independent and controllable PC industry chain ecosystem through its own chips and operating systems. This will not only ensure its dominance in key technology fields, but also bring Huawei a huge strategic advantage.
Only by fully controlling the core links of the PC industry chain can Huawei truly get rid of external constraints and achieve autonomy and controllability in this field. This is not only about Huawei's own development, but also about the improvement of the overall strength of China's technology industry.
(2) Break through product boundaries and realize ecological closed loop
In addition to technological independence, another important goal behind Huawei's PC strategy is to break through the boundaries of traditional products and achieve a comprehensive closure of the industrial ecosystem.
In the past, Huawei has successfully built a complete ecosystem in the smartphone field, including key aspects such as mobile phone hardware, operating systems, and application services. And in the PC space, it clearly wants to replicate this successful model as well.
By independently developing the Kirin 9000C chip and HarmonyOS PC version, Huawei can not only control the core technology of the PC industry chain, but also deeply integrate it with existing smartphones and tablets. This can not only greatly improve the user experience and enhance product stickiness, but also achieve cross-screen collaboration to form a more complete full-scene product matrix.
It can be said that Huawei's PC strategy is not simply aimed at the computer market, but also to build a new ecosystem that includes smart terminals, operating systems, and application services. Through this breakthrough of product boundaries and ecological closure, it hopes to further consolidate its dominant position in the field of consumer electronics and continue to expand its influence.
(3) Leverage the PC field to open up new growth engines
In addition to achieving independent controllability and ecological closed-loop, Huawei's layout in the PC field has a deeper goal, that is, to develop new growth engines.
As we all know, the smartphone market has become saturated, and Huawei urgently needs to find a new growth track. And the PC market offers just such an opportunity.
According to IDC, global PC shipments will reach 320 million units in 2023, and the market space is still broad. Especially driven by the epidemic, the continuous release of demand for remote work and online education has injected new impetus into the PC market.
Huawei is clearly bullish on this trend. Through independent research and development of Kirin 9000C chip and HarmonyOS PC version, it can not only grasp the leading position in the PC field, but also use its own brand advantages in the field of consumer electronics to quickly cut market share.
Once it has gained a foothold in the PC market, Huawei will be able to further leverage product synergies and drive the growth of other consumer electronics. This will open up new revenue streams for it and become a new engine for future growth.
To sum up, Huawei's layout in the PC field is not accidental, but based on long-term strategic considerations. It must not only realize the independent and controllable technology, but also build a more complete ecological closed loop, and ultimately seek new breakthroughs in the consumer electronics track. This kind of strategic vision and business insight is undoubtedly awe-inspiring.
3. The potential impact of Huawei's PC strategy
So, what kind of impact will Huawei's forward-looking PC strategy bring? What far-reaching changes will it have on the industrial pattern and market competition pattern?
(1) Reshape the pattern of the PC industry and set off a new round of technological revolution
First of all, Huawei's PC strategy will have a profound impact on the entire PC industry landscape.
In the past, the PC industry has been dominated by American tech giants such as Intel and Microsoft, and Huawei's own chips and operating systems will undoubtedly disrupt this pattern. Once its Kirin 9000C and HarmonyOS PC version are actually put on the market, it will definitely pose a serious challenge to traditional players such as Intel and Windows.
Not only that, Huawei's move is also expected to trigger a new round of technological revolution. Its independent innovation can not only promote the upgrading of PC hardware and software, but also may drive the reconstruction of the entire industrial chain. For example, the application ecological construction based on HarmonyOS and the new PC architecture design based on Kirin 9000C are expected to open a new era in the PC field.
It can be said that the implementation of Huawei's PC strategy will not only reshape the competitive landscape of the PC industry, but also trigger deep changes in the entire industry. This kind of change will definitely bring a new experience to users, and will also promote the upgrading and iteration of the entire industry chain.
(2) Accelerate the process of China's independent and controllable science and technology
In addition to the impact on the PC industry itself, Huawei's strategic layout is also expected to accelerate the process of China's independent and controllable technology.
As we all know, in the field of key core technologies, Chinese enterprises have long relied on imports, and there is a serious hidden danger of "stuck neck". Huawei's move has undoubtedly set an important benchmark for China's independent and controllable technology.
Once Huawei achieves a breakthrough in its own chips and operating systems in the PC field, it will surely become an example for Chinese companies to catch up. Other manufacturers will also be encouraged to invest in their own research and development in order to achieve technological independence in their respective fields.
This trend of domestic substitution, led by Huawei, will undoubtedly promote the autonomy of China's entire technology industry chain to a new level. This will not only help enhance the core competitiveness of Chinese enterprises, but also inject new impetus into the country's scientific and technological innovation.
Therefore, the success of Huawei's PC strategy not only means that its position in the field of consumer electronics is more solid, but also will become an important milestone in China's independent and controllable technology.
(3) Promote the deep integration of the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain
It is worth mentioning that the implementation of Huawei's PC strategy is also expected to bring about deep integration of the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain.
In the past, each link of the PC industry chain was often relatively independent, and there was a lack of effective collaboration between upstream chip manufacturers, midstream machine manufacturers, and downstream application developers. To a certain extent, this hinders the overall innovation ability of the industrial chain.
Huawei's approach has broken this barrier to a certain extent. Through independent research and development of chips and operating systems, it can achieve deep integration of hardware and software, and then drive collaborative innovation of the entire industry chain.
For example, Huawei can optimize the performance of the PC version of HarmonyOS according to the characteristics of the Kirin 9000C to maximize the potential of the chip. At the same time, it can also drive upstream chip design and process research and development, as well as downstream application software development, forming an industrial ecology with upstream and downstream linkage.
It can be said that Huawei's strategic intention is not only to achieve autonomy and control, but also to reshape the collaborative innovation model of the entire PC industry chain. This deep integration of the industrial chain will surely promote another leap in technological progress in the PC field.
All in all, Huawei's new layout in the PC field is undoubtedly a heroic move. It not only reflects the strategic vision of this company, but also will surely trigger profound changes in the PC industry and even the entire Chinese technology industry. We are bound to witness the arrival of a new technological revolution, and Huawei will undoubtedly be the protagonist of this revolution.