Is it true that open ecosystems are the future of application development
Tags: Android App Development, AndroidDev, Application, Ecosystem, Open Source

We can’t get enough of our mobile apps. Last year 204 billion apps were downloaded, and that number is only growing in 2020.

As app stores entered the mainstream tech culture, developers were exposed to an audience of millions of people eager to embrace the innovative capabilities of their devices through the creativity of third-party developers.

The rapid commercialization of the app ecosystem has led big tech brands to restrict app innovation within their platforms, often to the detriment of developers.

As developers wage war on app store policies, Huawei is banking on simple concept developers can sidestep: open ecosystems.

Developers versus closed ecosystems

In some ways, closed app ecosystems are the antithesis of dominant developer trends. We live in a time when anyone in the world with the skills and creativity to create apps can. In fact, developers adhere to strict policies on app stores that prevent them from showcasing their apps outside of branded app stores or monetizing their creations without the mandatory fees of major mobile platforms.

As the app economy thrives in a multi-billion dollar industry, developers are increasingly exposed to the vagaries of the platform and the erosion of developer freedom is the cost. In his TNW2020 keynote, Peter Gooden, chief marketing officer for environmental systems in Western Europe at Huawei, proposed an “alternative software ecosystem” that would allow developers to embrace open innovation. Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) is the corporate solution for claustrophobic developers who want to create new app experiences for a connected world.

We are at a critical moment in the face of closed ecosystems. A group of large app companies such as the makers of Fortnite and Spotify recently formed a Coalition For App Fairness to fight against deposit commissions and app store policies from Google and Apple. Companies like Facebook openly criticize app stores for policies that disproportionately affect business users. It is clear that multinational and independent developers want more freedom, and as Huawei embarks on connected life through the strategy of Seamless AI Life, developers are encouraged to embark on a new path to innovation in applications.

Open ecosystems, open innovation

Context is at the heart of Huawei’s approach to app development. In his TNW2020 opening keynote, Huawei’s Gauden shared insights into the HMS ecosystem that puts developers in the driver’s seat of application innovation. Developers will create different use cases for different parts of the hardware, depending on the needs of the device in that scenario.

Huawei provides developers with open access to HMS Core software code and 13000 scenario APIs to support application functionality in various contexts. The API suites fall into seven main categories, including application utility services such as a locator kit, a portfolio kit, and a scan set. The more adventurous combos include virtual reality engine APIs, 3D facial recognition, and smart device enhancing the capabilities of connected Huawei devices..

Developers can integrate APIs to create contextual experiences for users. One example is MyTunerRadio, a digital radio directory with 50,000 global listings and over a million podcasts. Its developers have used HMS Core and API Kits to create features that support various scenarios where a user activates the app outside of a smartphone. For example, MyTunerRadio integrates with smart home speakers and uses Huawei’s HiCar technology for in-car play. It can also integrate with a smartwatch so that users can control the volume from their wrist.

Huawei places the smartphone at the heart of its Seamless AI Life connected strategy but aims to expand its app capacity outside of the mobile phone. As Gauden told TNW: “We have an ambitious vision: to deliver digital to every person, home, and organization for a fully connected and intelligent world.” The scenarios that the MyTunerRadio developers envision are a realistic representation of how an individual interacts with the app on a daily basis, and Huawei wants to bring this sensitivity to all technologies related to the app.

Gauden would like to highlight how Huawei encourages app innovation: “With Huawei creating the building blocks to make it easier for developers to take advantage of amazing device experiences across multiple Huawei device types, this ensures developers can continue. To focus solely on innovation and developing their products. “

Increasing consumer interest in connected devices means that application innovation must extend beyond the mobile region and developers can meet this demand by pairing future Huawei devices with connected software. Huawei’s AppGallery is the world’s third-largest app ecosystem built by Huawei and two million third-party developers. It is the place where developers communicate with users through their apps, and Huawei aims to make it a welcome destination for developers who want to build a living, connected future.

The new challenges of building an open and connected app ecosystem present an active opportunity for developers who want to exercise their independence and creativity to the fullest.

Building an open future

The future of the open ecosystem is full of immense possibilities and immersive technologies. In less than two decades, app stores have grown from a fringe novelty to a standard requirement for modern smartphones. Huawei’s work in this field is not wasted; It is necessary. As Huawei aligns Seamless AI Life’s strategy with open app development, it is forging an unconventional but futuristic partnership with developers. Huawei sets a new industry standard for innovative collaboration, and brands pay attention.

Huawei’s partnership with News UK is an example of this new approach. The company behind TalkSport Radio, The Times, and The Sun has created an immersive newspaper app on the Huawei Mate XS foldable tablet. The app experience also simulates the experience of reading a newspaper with a larger screen.

As Huawei works to enable developers to build the future in an open environment, millions of Huawei users around the world will feel the impact. The effect of the ripple will change the daily activities of many and direct us towards a more connected future.

When asked about the impact of technologies like Mate XS integration from News UK, The Next Web Gauden made clear that open collaboration with developers was the way to go. “With the home and workplace changing, technology plays a more important role than ever in keeping things running smoothly. And if we want to make this life easier, instead of causing frustration, we need to work together — creating products and services that connect from my point of view.