Huawei opens developer lab in Singapore

Huawei has opened a developer lab in Singapore that will offer software development resources to those who are building mobile apps for Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), its alternative to Google Mobile Services.

HMS was created in the wake of the US ban on Huawei in 2019, which led Google to cut off the Chinese technology giant from the Android ecosystem. It is now being used by 700 million users in more than 170 countries.

Called Digix, the lab is equipped with various tools that can be used to build mobile apps infused with artificial intelligence, augmented reality and other capabilities. The tools are also accessible online, enabling developers across the region to make use of the resources virtually.

“The new Digix lab in Singapore serves as an all-encompassing innovation hub that provides developers in the region with the tools they need to succeed,” said Nicholas Ma, CEO of Huawei International.

“With Singapore as a flourishing hub in Asia-Pacific, Huawei will continue to strengthen our collaboration with local partners and institutions to cultivate and nurture a resilient, evolving pool of tech talents,” he added.

Interest in Huawei’s mobile platform is brewing, fuelled by the growing popularity of its smartphones across the region. Huawei expanded its regional HMS team by three-fold in the past year, which saw a 143% increase in the number of newly registered Huawei developers in Singapore alone.

So far, over 90% of top Singapore apps, including the Grab super app and the TraceTogether contact-tracing app, have integrated with HMS Core and are available at Huawei’s AppGallery app store.

Building developer support is crucial for Huawei’s mobile platform to gain a critical mass of users, which is why it has been actively wooing budding developers through partnerships with local institutions such as Republic Polytechnic and Singapore University of Social Sciences.

This year, the company will debut three developer community programmes in Asia-Pacific that are targeted at both student and expert developers, equipping them with the necessary tools and skills they need to excel in mobile app development.

In Singapore, Huawei will also partner SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to provide online training courses, as well as certifications for local tech talents, to hone their skills in Android app development and master HMS Core capabilities.

According to Canalys, Huawei ranked third globally in total smartphone shipments last year, behind Apple and Samsung. This was despite its slip to the sixth position in the fourth quarter of 2020 as a result of US sanctions.