Latest news with #BBKGroup
Forbes
19-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Warning—Is Your Phone At Risk From This Chinese Spyware?
China is watching, U.S. warns. Google's Android is now under serious threat from China. It's the greatest threat to the world's leading mobile OS since its inception. And if there was any doubt as to how critical this is, it's serious enough that U.S. lawmakers have now stepped in. As I reported last week, rumors in China suggest its largest phone manufacturers are plotting to collaborate on an alternative to Android. Xiaomi and BBK Group — the company behind OPPO, Vivo, and OnePlus — might join with Huawei, which has already departed Android's stable, on a Google-free alternative. Absent Huawei this might be fanciful, but China's leading technology company already has an Android alternative. HarmonyOS started life as an IOT architecture and then expanded to phones when U.S. sanctions kicked in five years ago. It's sleeker than Android and is arguably less bloated. It's also right-sized for today's devices. I warned this would happen back in 2020, as the obvious, eventual outcome from an America/China splinternet China playing the long game. If Android does eventually lose BBK in addition to Huawei, then it will be decimated. Only Samsung will remain as a leading OEM within the fold. Pixel is an also-ran when it comes to sales volumes. Cue America's lawmakers. 'We write to highlight the threat of HarmonyOS and the imperative of multilateral collaboration and diplomacy to prevent HarmonyOS's proliferation,' the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party warned the U.S. Secretaries of Defense and Commerce and the Chairman of the FCC. The politicians warned that Huawei's HarmonyOS is 'an alternative to the current leading mobile operating systems developed by Google (Android) and Apple (iOS)' as well as Microsoft's Windows. 'Given the serious national security and geopolitical implications associated with foreign adversary operating systems, it is critical that HarmonyOS be thoroughly scrutinized and that we work with our allies and partners to prevent it from becoming embedded in devices across the world.' The letter cites China's National Intelligence Law, warning that 'HarmonyOS could provide a direct channel for data collection, potential cyber exploitation, and digital authoritarianism.' Huawei's OS is open source, but 'future updates or patches to the system, could contain backdoors and vulnerabilities designed to facilitate espionage.' Xiaomi is Android's largest OEM bar Samsung, and alongside the BBK's brands has sold hundreds of millions of phones outside China. Add Huawei into the mix and you have a readymade, third global mobile OS. All those phones could be upgraded with a new OS — which is what we have seen with Huawei's install base. The Committee says the U.S. 'should fully examine HarmonyOS's architecture and codebase' and ensure 'our allies and partners around the world are aware of Huawei's, and thus the CCP's, control over HarmonyOS, including its updates and patches.' I have approached Huawei for any response, but such allegations have been dismissed by China's closest mirror to Apple and Google in the past. While the security threat to Americans and others is open to debate, its competitive threat to Google and Android in particular is not. America still controls the world's two mobile ecosystems, but if China takes a third route that will change, and there will be no going back. 'Unlike operating systems subject to U.S. regulatory jurisdiction, HarmonyOS is controlled by a sanctioned and red-flagged entity. Huawei is on the Commerce Department's Entity List, the FCC's Covered List, and the U.S. Department of Defense's list of Chinese Military Companies,' the politicians point out. 'Simply put, in the universe of bad actors, Huawei is as bad as it gets.'
Forbes
10-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Google's Android Nightmare—Samsung Must Now Decide
All change for Android AFP via Getty Images Whisper it quietly — Android might be heading for something of a nightmare, even a disaster. After the tumult of losing Huawei to U.S. sanctions, prompting what was once Android's leading OEM to go its own way, this could be the beginning of something much worse. It would be a setback for Google. But for Samsung, it's decision time. The Huawei news was bad enough for Android. I warned at the time of the initial sanctions stripping Google from Huawei phones that this risked China going alone, bad news for U.S. tech. We're five years on and Huawei's Harmony OS has enabled their Android-free phones to chase down Vivo for top spot in China's vast market. But now China's market-leading Vivo, its fourth-placed Oppo, and Xiaomi, the third-best selling phone-maker globally, may have a nasty surprise for Android's ecosystem. As XiaomiTime explains, 'there have been rumors in the tech space of a collaboration among three Chinese tech players – Xiaomi, BBK Group (parent company of OPPO, Vivo, and OnePlus), and Huawei – to launch a Google-free Android alternative.' This move would leave Samsung as the only top selling brand still running Android. Huawei was once up there and has already gone. Xiaomi, Vivo and Oppo are the others. Per GSMArena, 'while Huawei lost its global dominance, Xiaomi, vivo and Oppo are in the Top 5 globally, so if they start selling Google-free phones it would have a major impact on the market.' To put it more starkly, it would be a game-changer for Android. And it isn't just Google and Android in the crosshairs. Last week, the South China Morning Post reported on 'Huawei unveiling [its] On the smartphone side, Samsung is already Android's leading OEM, albeit Huawei was chasing it down hard for top spot (and occasionally winning) before sanctions took hold. If China's other leading brands also drop out, Samsung would be the only major Android player other than Google itself, still in the ecosystem. Separately to this emerging China story, Samsung is already suffering from its need to follow Google's lead at every turn, with Pixels always coming first. We saw this with Android 15 and Samsung's long delays, we're seeing it now with Android 16's beta and likely rollout schedule, and we see it every month — including this month, when security releases make their way to Pixels much more efficiently than to anyone else. If — and it's a big if for now — the other leading Chinese OEMs collaborate around a common OS, with Huawei's advanced Android alternative as a starter, Samsung will have the opportunity to redefine Android and its relationship with Google. It can still take the apps and the AI, but it would be an opportunity to create an ecosystem more closely resembling Apple's and Google's than it has now. The optics of Google competing with Samsung and other OEMs while providing their core OS has always been awkward, and gets more so as Pixel advances. Perhaps this kind of change was always inevitable. Certainly the idea of Chinese OEMs being forever beholden to U.S. operating systems was fanciful. And that change leaves Samsung behind. Things could be about to get interesting. Watch this space…
Zawya
01-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
BBK announces Q1 net profit of $56.25mln
Bahrain - BBK has reported a net profit of BD21.1 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 compared to BD20.3m during the same period of last year, representing a growth of 3.9 per cent. The basic and diluted earnings per share amounted to 12 fils compared to 11 fils during the same period last year. Total comprehensive income for the first three months of 2025 amounted to BD15.4m, compared to BD27.3m for the same period of last year, a decline of 43.6pc due to unfavourable mark-to-market valuations of the investment securities. Total operating income (including share of results from associated companies and joint ventures) for the quarter showed a growth of 2pc from BD40.2m achieved during the first quarter last year to BD41m for the same period achieved this year. The growth was driven by 9.3pc higher net fees and commission income of BD4.7m compared to BD4.3m in the same period last year. In addition, investment and other income stood at BD7.2m compared to BD4.7m last year, recording a growth of 53.2pc, while net provisions in the quarter decreased by 13.5pc from BD3.7m to BD3.2m compared to the same period of last year. Furthermore, the bank's share from associated companies and joint ventures during the quarter amounted to a profit of BD0.4m compared to a loss of BD1m during the same period of last year. This was offset by a 10.9pc decrease in net interest income, resulting from lower international interest rates, from BD32.2m to BD28.7m compared to the same period of last year. The bank's continuous investment in its strategic initiatives and human capital led the total operating expenses to be reported as BD16.6m compared to BD16m during the corresponding period of last year, representing an increase of 3.8pc. Total shareholders' equity as of end-March 2025 stood at BD593.1m (end-2024: BD620.8m), a reduction of 4.5pc, mainly due to the declaration of cash dividend during the first quarter of 2025. The total assets as of end-March 2025 reached BD4,485.4m compared to BD4,192.6m as of end-2024, registering a growth of 7pc. The growth was mainly attributable to investment securities and the loan portfolio, cash and balances with central banks and due from banks and financial institutions. The board of directors commented on the bank's results. They said: 'As we concluded our successful three-year strategic cycle, BBK has achieved significant milestones that have positioned the Bank for sustained growth and innovation. The robust financial results reflects the dedication and commitment of our team in delivering value to our stakeholders.' Also commenting on the results, BBK Group chief executive Yaser Alsharifi said: 'Despite the challenging market conditions, BBK has achieved a sound financial performance for the first quarter of 2025, which underscores our resilience and strategic focus in a dynamic market. As we embark on our new strategic cycle for 2025-2027, we are excited to unveil our new initiatives which will focus on market expansion, digital transformation, customer-centricity and innovation. We thank our shareholders, partners, employees and valued customers for their loyalty, dedication and unwavering support. He added: 'In line with our steadfast commitment to corporate social responsibility, BBK has sponsored the 'Global Women Economic forum and Exhibition'. This aligns with the bank's efforts to support, encourage and promote initiatives aimed at empowering women and raising awareness of their pivotal role in the economic and social development. 'BBK remains dedicated to provide tailored solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers through collaborations with real estate and housing sectors, including strategic partnership agreements with vehicle distributors. The latest initiative in this regard is the platinum sponsorship of the Innovation Forum and Exhibition for Social Housing organised by the Housing and Urban Planning Ministry. Looking ahead, we remain committed to drive sustainable growth and deliver value to our shareholders while navigating the challenges and opportunities ahead.' Copyright 2022 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
