BEIJING: China may launch its homegrown operating system (OS) by October after concerns about the U.S. surveillance and a monopoly probe of Microsoft, Xinhua reported.

According to Ni Guangnan of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the OS will be first seen on desktop devices and later expanded to smartphones and other mobile devices.

"We hope to launch a Chinese-made desktop operating system by October supporting app stores," Ni, who heads an OS development alliance established in March, told the People's Post and Telecommunications News.

"China has more than a dozen mobile OS developers with no independent intellectual property rights because their research is based on Android," Ni added.

There are still problems in the programme, including a lack of research funds and too many developers pulling in different directions.

According to the report, Ni said the end of Windows XP and the government ban on the procurement of Windows 8 have opened the door to domestic OS developers.

"Our key to success lies in an environment that can help us compete with Google, Apple and Microsoft," said Ni.

China is now looking to help its domestic industry catch up with imported systems such as Microsoft's Windows and Google's mobile operating system Android.

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