BEIJING - After concerns about US surveillance and a monopoly probe of Microsoft, there is some good news for China's homegrown operating system (OS): a desktop version may be ready in October.

Ni Guangnan of the Chinese Academy of Engineering told the People's Post and Telecommunications News that the OS will be first seen on desktop devices and later expanded to smartphones and other mobile devices.

Ni heads an OS development alliance established in March. There are still problems in the program, including a lack of research funds and too many developers pulling in different directions.

"China has more than a dozen mobile OS developers with no independent intellectual property rights because their research is based on Android," said Ni, adding future development should be led by the government.

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.

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