During a media tour organized by the Beijing government last week, Uniotech manager Tian Ye told visitors that the company's products are “breaking the world's monopoly.” [Microsoft’s] Windows”.
UnioTech, a company founded out of China's Linux enthusiast community, is leading the country's efforts to replace foreign operating systems on personal computers (PCs) and servers. The company's Linux-based PC operating system is becoming increasingly popular among government customers as an alternative to Windows.
China's move to phase out foreign systems in its military and state institutions has been going on for years, and the nation's efforts to develop local alternatives to foreign chips, systems, databases, and software Its momentum is increasing with the initiative of the campaign “Xinzhuang”. It also aims to develop the domestic high-tech sector into an industry with an annual output of 100 billion yuan (US$13.9 billion) next year.
Despite these efforts, analysts say China faces significant hurdles in the semiconductor sector.
Dan Hutchison, vice chairman of Canadian semiconductor industry research firm TechInsights, said in a webinar last week that China is about 10 to 15 years behind Western countries in lithography technology, a key step in chip manufacturing, but in processing technology. said that the difference was small. .
Russell Wu, general manager of networking equipment startup TML and previously at Intel, said China lags behind overseas competitors in product quality and chip manufacturing precision, but if necessary He said that he would strive to become self-sufficient.
“We choose to collaborate whenever possible. [but] If we can't do that, we will go our own way,'' Wu said. “We may be slower, but we won't die.”
He added that the Xinzhuang campaign provides an opportunity to build a unique Chinese ecosystem so that local startups can trust each other and grow together.
China promotes development of domestic OS comparable to Windows
China promotes development of domestic OS comparable to Windows
UnioTech's operating system is configured to work with most processors manufactured by major Chinese central processing unit (CPU) manufacturers and brands, including Huawei, Hygon Information Technology, Phytium Technology, Loongson, Zhaoxin Semiconductor, and Sunway. Masu.
Most of these companies are blacklisted by the US Department of Commerce and are blocked from accessing global foundry services. As a result, it relies on Chinese chip makers to produce its CPUs.
Uniotech says its systems were installed on more than 6 million Chinese-made computers as of last year, and it has a strong customer base of more than 40,000 comprising government departments, financial institutions and state-owned enterprises. It is said that there is
China's central government announced in March that it would increase spending on technology and scientific development by 10% this year to about 370.8 billion yuan. The additional financial support came despite the country's weak economy, dragged down by weak debt and property markets.
Some foreign companies operating in China are already feeling the heat of local efforts to switch to domestic alternatives.
State-backed company apologizes for 'self-developed' software based on Microsoft code
State-backed company apologizes for 'self-developed' software based on Microsoft code
VMware, the cloud-computing company recently acquired by California semiconductor giant Broadcom, reduced the size of its sales team in China last year, in part as state-owned companies shunned its database services, people familiar with the matter said. This was revealed by a person involved. The person discussing private business matters declined to be named.
VMware faces increasing competition from Huawei and other Chinese companies offering similar solutions, the people said.
VMware did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“This is nothing new, China's urge to displace foreign technology has been going on and on for 20 years,” said Cameron Johnson, a Shanghai-based supply chain expert.
“U.S. companies in China are aware of China's motives for prioritizing domestic IT suppliers and believe this is at odds with China's efforts to convince the rest of the world that it is open for business. .”
