Huawei OS may be called 'Hongmeng,' but it's reportedly 'far from ready'

Huawei is still "far from ready" to launch its own operating system, but it may have a name at least, according to reports.

The phone maker received the trademark "Hongmeng" for the system from the Chinese National Intellectual Property Administration, after working on it under the internal code name "Project Z," The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

Separately, sources told The Information on Tuesday that the internal project "has had its ups and downs and remains far from ready."

Google locked Huawei out of its Android updates earlier this week. On Tuesday, the US Commerce Department granted the Chinese tech giant a three-month general license to update existing devices, temporarily easing restrictions on Huawei's access to American components and software that go into its phones . Google agreed to continue working with Huawei for that time.

Despite the Google ban, Huawei said Tuesday that its latest smartphone, the Honor Pro 20, will use Android.

Read: Samsung has the most to gain from Google putting Huawei on ice

Watch this: What is going on between Huawei and the US?

04:59

CNET's understanding is that Huawei has no immediate plans to launch its own OS, and that the company is looking at launching one only if Android is permanently removed as an option for its smartphone customers.

More than a year ago, CNET sister site TechRepublic reported that Huawei had been working on its own OS since 2012, in case it got banned from Android.

Last week, the US government blacklisted networking gear from Huawei and President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning the company.  Microsoft has also reportedly removed Huawei's MateBook laptops from its online store.

Read: Huawei's 'plan B' smartphone OS: What it needs to succeed

First published May 21.
Updated May 24: Adds report about Hongmeng.