OS Dependence

The China Operating System logo and screenshots.
The China Operating System logo and screenshots.

 

The Korean and Chinese governments both adopted a policy to develop a new operating system (OS) around the same time. At that time, their OS development plans were equally criticized for being unfeasible. 

However, those plans have generated different results after three years. Korea’s plan didn't bear fruit, whereas China successfully developed its own mobile OS, dubbed the China Operating System (COS), last January. The software industry thinks that continuous investment in developing an OS is needed for the long term, since the area has the potential to become a foundation of the industry. In addition, its influence is deemed to be far-reaching.  

In 2011, the Korean government announced its intent to develop its own mobile OS to challenge Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS. The Ministry of Knowledge Economy – later known as the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) – came up with an idea for OS development in the belief that the global mobile market’s center of gravity shifted away from mobile devices towards software. The government created a consortium with handset makers such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, and made a specific plan to complete the project by 2014 with an investment of 54 billion won (US$50.1 million). 

Nevertheless, the OS project was quietly called off following a public hearing. It was largely due to opposition from the industry and a series of criticisms on the feasibility of OS development. On top of that, Samsung and LG did not show much interest in the project. The 50 billion won of budget for the project was transferred away. 

The software industry was divided over the decision. Some said that the withdrawal of the project was the right decision owing to its unrealistic nature, while others believed that the project was necessary to have an alternative to Android or iOS.  

An official at MSIP said, “The OS project was suspended early, because many pointed out various problems,” adding, “Since it was not realistic to develop an OS, the government decided to focus on strengthening other software.” 

Nonetheless, China’s successful development of its own OS, and the end of Microsoft’s official support for Windows XP, have ignited renewed attention to the country’s 2011 project.

In the same year, China pursued an OS project to reduce its heavy reliance on Microsoft’s Windows OS, just like Korea. At the beginning, the project was also criticized for being incomplete and unrealistic. The Chinese government developed a Linux-based operating platform for PCs after years of research and development, but it was considered to be a failure. The OS was just not very useful in the end. The government, however, intensified efforts to develop an OS, and thus it was able to unveil its own mobile OS last January. Beijing is planning to roll out smartphones with COS built-in this year by supplying the mobile OS to major smartphone manufacturers.  

As a result, many in the local software industry believe that the government should expand its support for OS development. They think that Seoul ought to play a central role in the developmental effort and try to attract as many companies as possible, because a large number of participants are essential for the effective development of an OS. 

An industry source explained, “Most of the government’s IT-related policies are aimed at generating outcomes in the short term. A new government is more likely to discontinue support for long-term projects initiated by the previous administration.” The source added, “Our country could’ve been successful in the development of our own OS, just like China, if we had taken a long-term approach to the issue.”

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