Above: CEO of HONOR Device Co, Ltd. George Zhao(left)and Corporate Vice President and Chairman and CEO of Microsoft GCR Dr. HOU Yang(right)
Shenzhen, September 16, 2021 — Smart devices provider HONOR and Microsoft have announced that they will expand their partnership as they pursue a more innovative experience for end users. The two companies will collaborate on Microsoft cloud adoption, personal and mobile computing as well as other technologies.
At the signing ceremony, George Zhao, CEO of HONOR Device Co, Ltd., said: ” HONOR is committed to adopt a consumer-centric approach and develop best-in-class products for our users. With a strong belief in openness, cooperation, and innovation, we will work closely with our global supply chain partners across the industry to create a world-class product experience with our technological capabilities, market insights, and R&D innovations. HONOR and Microsoft will continue to strengthen our strategic partnership and develop solutions that can incorporate different software and hardware technologies for various user scenarios. We are confident that together HONOR and Microsoft will be able to establish an interconnection between end-devices and the all-scenario ecology to create a new intelligent world for everyone.”
According to the strategic cooperation memorandum signed by the two companies, HONOR will adopt AI speech and AI translation services based on Microsoft Azure. These services will be used to support HONOR’s Smart Assistant YOYO, collaborative office, smart travel, life services, smart translation, and other applications.
Microsoft will also help to improve the user experience of HONOR’s mobile phones, laptops, tablets, smart screens, watches, earphones, and other devices. Microsoft will cooperate with HONOR across mobile computing, PC, and productivity applications. The companies will also jointly explore innovative mobile experiences. Microsoft’s resources, technical skills and global reach will also provide strong support for HONOR’s global expansion.
Corporate Vice President and Chairman and CEO of Microsoft GCR Dr. Hou Yang said: “In the era of the new normal, all parts of the world and all walks of life are accelerating digital transformation. With the rise of hybrid work and environmental intelligence, customers expect more convenience, security, and better interaction from their mobile computing devices, systems, and applications, for both work and home.
“Microsoft hopes to accelerate the integrated development of software and hardware intelligence by continuously deepening and expanding our strategic cooperation with HONOR, to bring richer experiences to end users, and to bring born-in-Asia innovations to the world by leveraging Microsoft Azure.”
The latest agreement builds on an existing relationship between the two companies. The MagicBook Pro – launched in July 2019 – came pre-loaded with Windows 10 and was included in the “Best of IFA 2020” lists of eight global media outlets, including Tech Radar, Wired and Expert Review. The product sold well in China, Russia, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Malaysia etc.
Microsoft was among the first businesses to partner with HONOR after it became an independent company. In December 2020, HONOR announced plans for global cooperation with Microsoft, and the HONOR PC adopted Windows 10 as its official operating system worldwide.
Microsoft is set to launch the next generation of its operating system with Windows 11, which features improvements in productivity, creativity, accessibility, gaming, and entertainment performance. HONOR has enhanced the hardware, performance, and operating experience of its latest PC products accordingly, so that they better serve the features of Windows 11. The MagicBook V 14 of HONOR laptop will be the world’s first batch of computers to come pre-installed with Windows 11, and will be unveiled at HONOR Life, HONOR Smart Life Product Launch, on September 26.
HONOR’s “1+8+N” all-scenario IoT strategy puts smartphones (1) at the core of the customer experience, eight categories of in-house devices and a wide range of accompanying products from its partners to build of an intelligent, mobile and interconnected ecosystem for global users.
This strategy complements Microsoft’s “Intelligent Cloud + Intelligent Edge” worldview, enabling the two companies to establish a solid foundation for strategic cooperation. The global reach of Microsoft’s intelligent cloud services and its leadership in personal computing and productivity applications will also provide strong support for HONOR to achieve success in the global market.
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About HONOR
HONOR is a leading global provider of smart devices. It is dedicated to becoming a global iconic technology brand and creating a new intelligent world for everyone through its powerful products and services. With an unwavering focus on R&D, it is committed to developing technology that empowers people around the globe to go beyond, giving them the freedom to achieve and do more. Offering a range of high-quality smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables to suit every budget, HONOR’s portfolio of innovative, premium and reliable products enable people to become a better version of themselves.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
