Major Chinese internet companies, including JD.com, NetEase, and Meituan, are actively recruiting app developers for projects based on Huawei's HarmonyOS mobile platform. This comes as Huawei, the US-blacklisted telecommunications equipment maker, strives to expand the adoption of its self-developed operating system and distance itself from Google's Android ecosystem.

According to online career sites Maimai and liepin.com, JD.com, NetEase, and Meituan are among the Big Tech companies seeking HarmonyOS app developers. Meituan, based in Beijing, is specifically recruiting for roles such as HarmonyOS infrastructure engineer, offering monthly salaries ranging from 40,000 yuan to 60,000 yuan (US$5,492 to US$8,238) for developers with HarmonyOS experience.

JD.com and NetEase are also hiring developers for apps designed specifically for Huawei smartphones, as mentioned on the job sites.

Huawei's HarmonyOS was developed as a self-designed mobile operating system to compete with Google's widely-adopted Android platform. The company's founder and CEO, Ren Zhengfei, unveiled the strategy earlier this year to counter the impact of US sanctions, aiming to establish HarmonyOS as an alternative ecosystem in mainland China.

Richard Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei's consumer business group and chairman of its Intelligent Automotive Solution business unit, disclosed that more than 700 million devices currently run on HarmonyOS. Additionally, over 2.2 million third-party developers have created apps for the platform. Huawei is set to release a developer preview version of its next iteration, HarmonyOS Next, in the first quarter of 2023, which will no longer support Android-based apps on Huawei devices installed with the new operating system.

Huawei's alternative ecosystem initiative aligns with its goal to reduce reliance on US suppliers, including Google, as the company faces restrictions under the Entity List. Google's Android remains the dominant mobile operating system globally, with around a 70% market share as of September, according to StatCounter.

The successful launch of the Mate 60 Pro smartphone in late August marked a significant milestone for Huawei's confidence in its alternative ecosystem strategy. The company's 5G comeback saw overwhelming public support, with netizens in China celebrating the new handsets and their domestically made advanced chips as a symbol of victory over tough US sanctions. As a result, Huawei experienced impressive growth in the third quarter, becoming mainland China's fastest-growing smartphone vendor with a 37% year-on-year increase, according to tech consultancy Counterpoint Research's October report.

The recruitment drive by major Chinese internet firms indicates an increasing momentum behind Huawei's push to establish HarmonyOS as a viable operating system alternative in China. The company aims to continue expanding its ecosystem and attracting more developers to drive innovation and provide consumers with an improved user experience.