HMS Core and update notifications: what's it all about?

It was May 19, 2019 when Google made the block a Huawei. A measure born of the tension between the Trump administration and the Chinese government to which Google has reluctantly aligned itself for the renunciation of the revenues insured by a company in perpetual rise.

The slogan of a well-known tire manufacturer has taught us that power is nothing without control; in the technological field we can say that hardware is nothing without software: From one day to the next, Huawei found itself on foot and naked, with the real risk - which would have affected any other manufacturer except, perhaps, Samsung - of having to plant a shack and puppets.

After an understandable initial confusion, Huawei has given up all its resilience by showing a great desire to keep one's eyes high. And it started again, with the awareness that once the acute phase had passed it would have found further strength in autonomy and, why not, even new gains.

Fortunately, in Shenzhen they had a proprietary application store, created in times when no one could imagine that one day of their own AppGallery and the related services would have acted as a foothold to come out of the most treacherous swamp ever. We had to start from there then to replace the Google Play Store, and from Huawei Mobile Services to do the same with Google Mobile Services.

We have talked about Huawei Mobile Services - HMS - on several occasions, but few know that similar to the Google twins they are only the tip of the iceberg. First of all, in order not to get lost, it is better to summarize what are Huawei Mobile Services: they identify a digital marketplace like Huawei AppGallery - a showcase for thousands of apps -, a set of essential apps like Huawei Browser, and services like Huawei ID. The idea behind it is to offer an identical experience on all devices regardless of the product - smartphone or tablet - and the user interface, therefore EMUI - by Huawei - or Magic UI - by HONOR.

Index:

• What are and what are the main focuses of HMS Core
• What are the HMS Cores made of?
• HMS Core Notifications: Updates
• HMS Core: in definitiva

What are and what are the main focuses of HMS Core

This kit of apps and services, as anticipated, is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, under the hair of the visible there is a scaffolding - Huawei Mobile Services Core, abbreviated to HMS Core - composed of a multitude of elements that "simplify work and offer the maximum possible value" to developers, explains Huawei.

In other words, HMS Core is a collection of basic features (development, dissemination and monetization) mainly aimed at those who develop the Chinese company's tablet and smartphone apps then showcased by Huawei AppGallery and other distribution channels. With the severance of all relations with Google, Huawei has stepped up the development of HMS Core to stimulate developers to make their work available even outside the Google ecosystem, receiving encouraging responses.

From September 2018 to September 2019 it is doubled the number of apps with access to HMS Core, from 23.000 to over 50.000, as well as the number of registered developers worldwide which has largely exceeded one million, while the number of active users per month has grown by 30% to exceed 500 million, and prospects are growing also due tobillion dollar investment in resources to motivate developers to continually innovate.

At this point a premise is inevitable: forgive us if we will avoid the technical details in the following but we prefer that the discussion is smooth for the greatest number of enthusiasts, simplifying the concepts as much as possible. Friends with an obsession with technicalities are likely to be already knowledgeable on the subject or know perfectly well how and where to find what they are looking for.

Having said that, let's try to understand what are the components of HMS Core and what they are for.

What are the HMS Cores made of?

HMS Core for development

Account Kit

HMS Core Account Kit allows developers to integrate Huawei credentials as a valid tool for effecting the login within their own apps.

Account Kit offers secure access to a variety of devices (smartphones and tablets as well as infotainment systems), supports two-factor authentication and complies with GDPR privacy requirements. It is the equivalent of Google Play Services Sign-In.

Location Kit

HMS Core Location Kit provides developers with information about the position of the device to be exploited within the app: it uses the GPS data but also those coming from Bluetooth, network signal and Wi-Fi.

It is the equivalent of Google Play Services' Fused Location Provider.

Map Kit

Map Kit by HMS Core takes care of bringing within the apps maps and cartography providing developers the ability to customize their display. According to the reported data, Map Kit includes over 100 million points of interest information and over 150 million address information from more than 150 countries in over 40 languages.

It is the equivalent of the Google Maps SDK of Google Play Services.

Drive Kit

Drive Kit by HMS Core is the tool that allows developers to interface with Huawei Cloud, so that apps can read, write and sync data with Huawei's cloud. Drive Kit is one of the HMS Core components that Huawei is trying to improve faster.

It is the equivalent of Google Play Services' Google Drive REST API.

Game Service

Game Service by HMS Core is a tool for developers and users that allows players to track progress in games and access results and rankings. No less important is the fact that through Game Service developers can reward users for achieving certain objectives. Like Drive Kit, Game Service is also one of the components that are being worked on the most.

It is the Google Play Games equivalent of Google Play Services.

HMS Core for growth

Push Kit

Push Kit by HMS Core is a platform of messaging push that allows developers to communicate with users in over 200 countries in real time.

It is the equivalent of Google Firebase Cloud Messaging.

Analytics Kit

HMS Core Analytics Kit aims to submit up to 500 types of give on users including insights and habits to increase engagement and loyalty in and towards apps.

It is the equivalent of Google Firebase Analytics.

HMS Core for monetization

In-app purchases

HMS Core's In-App Purchases is perhaps the most expensive component for developers as it allows them to monetize your work around the world via single or subscription in-app purchases.

It is the equivalent of Google Play In-App Billing.

Ads Kit

Ads Kit by HMS Core is the second source of gain of the Huawei ecosystem. Each device with the Huawei Mobile Services has a unique identification code for the ads - Open Advertising ID - generated at the first start-up that allows you to provide personalized advertising in respect of privacy.

It is the equivalent of Google AdMob.

HMS Core Notifications: Updates

If you own a Huawei smartphone, it is highly likely that you will notice one from time to time HMS Core notification which warns of the presence of an update, unfortunately often very poor in details. This happens when Huawei updates one or more development kits and therefore it is necessary to update the HMS Core services of the various models.

If you receive one of these notifications you can proceed normally, without hesitation: it is a safe procedure managed entirely by Huawei that over time will allow you to use an increasing number of applications. The changelogs of the various updates can be viewed via the HMS Core AppGallery tab.

HMS Core: in definitiva

This deepening brings with it the hope of having opened a peephole on what it can be complex the development of an ecosystem even for those who chew little on apps and development, and how arduous was the challenge that, rightly or wrongly, Huawei had to face a year ago to try to survive.

However, not only did the company come out of a quagmire that would have put most of the technological realities on the pavement, but by blowing the palm of the first producer in the world to Samsung it is also. exit with your head held high. Of course, as specified several times, the development of Huawei Mobile Services had started a long time before the commercial ban, but in Shenzhen they had to reinvent their future and roll up their sleeves in a couple of weeks, which in the technological field last as long as a blink.

We cannot predict whether the company will successfully continue on this path, but we hope so: only one competition tightening between market players can bring better devices and services. Let Google stay on top of it.