As of November, the HarmonyOS 6 adaptation list has rapidly expanded, covering multiple categories such as smartphones, tablets, wearables, audio devices, and smart home products, entering a "mass upgrade phase." Devices running HarmonyOS 5 and HarmonyOS 6 have exceeded 27 million units, growing at a rate of over 100,000 units per day. But with a series of mainstream applications already onboard, has the ecosystem development of HarmonyOS truly reached completion?

It is widely known that the success of an operating system largely depends on the number of applications available. Sandwiched between the two giants, iOS and Android, HarmonyOS has achieved compatibility with most popular, high-frequency, and commonly used applications through the collective efforts of China's tech industry, thereby becoming the world's third-largest mobile operating system.

However, beyond the 5,000 commonly used apps, enterprise and government office applications—critical for daily operations—are indispensable for hundreds of millions of users. The next step for HarmonyOS is to cover more niche, low-frequency but essential applications, particularly those used within government agencies and enterprises. Only when these "capillary-level" applications also have their "HarmonyOS versions" can the ecosystem of the operating system establish a self-sustaining foundation, helping China fully overcome the challenge of lacking a "soul."

(1) In the brutal race of operating system competition, there have been precedents where "giants" collapsed due to the absence of "capillary-level" support.

Backed by Nokia and Microsoft, Windows Phone once boasted top-tier kernel technology, advanced design aesthetics, and smooth user interactions. It even invested heavily in onboarding nearly all leading mainstream apps during its early stages. Yet, it ultimately faded into obscurity amid fierce competition.

Where did it fail? The barrenness of its "long-tail" ecosystem was a key reason. Many users found that while their phones had major apps like social media and payment platforms, they lacked local bus schedules, office attendance tools, or trending mini-games on social platforms. These "shortcomings" quickly eroded patience, leaving Microsoft with a "$400 billion lesson."

The lesson is clear. Today, HarmonyOS powers over 1 billion devices, securing a stable user base. If it can garner sufficient developer support to expand the ecosystem of small and medium-sized applications, it can create a virtuous cycle: more apps attract more developers, leading to continuous updates and improved user experiences.

(2) From a security perspective, accelerating the development of domestic system versions for government, public service, and enterprise internal management apps is imperative.

Due to the first-mover advantage of foreign operating systems, many of China's enterprise and government applications have long relied on foreign technological frameworks, raising concerns about "growing crops in someone else's field."

In recent years, external sanctions and cyberattacks have intensified. For instance, China's time service center suffered a cyberattack with a foreign-branded smartphone acting as a key accomplice. A major Chinese high-tech firm in smart energy and digital information faced suspected foreign intelligence cyberattacks exploiting vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange to implant backdoors. These incidents underscore the urgency for enterprises and governments to enhance information security.

The reality demands a unified, secure, and efficient domestic system foundation to safeguard data security and digital sovereignty, ending the security anxieties caused by the lack of a "soul."

(3) As China's first fully self-developed mobile operating system, HarmonyOS 5 marks a breakthrough in reducing reliance on foreign technology, achieving true autonomy.

Unlike traditional systems that rely on patches, HarmonyOS 5 features a comprehensive, multi-layered security and privacy protection framework, shielding financial data flows, government information processing, and energy dispatch commands like "armor."

Beyond security, efficiency is another advantage. Traditional enterprise and government office apps often suffer from poor cross-platform collaboration. HarmonyOS's native distributed technology redefines cross-device collaboration, enabling rapid multi-platform deployment for enterprise apps. Features like seamless workflow continuity and cross-device file sharing significantly enhance efficiency. Built-in AI capabilities further empower enterprise apps with intelligent interactions, meeting the demands of the AI era.

(4) Today, the HarmonyOS ecosystem has taken shape. However, as the saying goes, "the last part of the journey is the hardest." The industry widely regards 100,000 apps as the milestone for HarmonyOS to meet diverse consumer needs—a critical goal to achieve within the next six to twelve months.

How to tackle the "hard bones," especially overcoming hesitation among some enterprises and government agencies? On one hand, collaborative development of benchmark apps like "Jingban," "Yuezhengyi," and "Online State Grid" can create a demonstration effect, attracting more institutions to join in adapting long-tail apps. On the other hand, HarmonyOS is reducing adaptation costs through tangible technical empowerment and innovative distribution models, from "full-stack development support" to "tailored solutions."

"Security as the foundation, efficiency as the wings, and intelligence as the core"—countless efforts converge to illuminate the night sky, bolstering China's tech industry against external uncertainties.

(5) The next five years are crucial for building China into a tech powerhouse. The 15th Five-Year Plan highlights "significantly improving self-reliance in science and technology" as a key socioeconomic development goal.

Looking ahead, China's vast digital economy requires "Chinese chips" and a "Chinese soul" as its sturdy roots to thrive and withstand challenges.

With millions of developers pushing forward and internet companies migrating en masse, HarmonyOS has taken solid strides in just two years, achieving multiple ecosystem milestones. As long as the government, enterprises, developers, and users remain united, China can undoubtedly build a prosperous, robust, and autonomous ecosystem for an intelligent, interconnected future.