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China has developed its own mobile operating system called China Operating System (COS) that will rival Microsoft's Windows, Google's Android and ChromeOS, as well as Apple's iOS and MacOS platforms.

Unveiled last week by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Shanghai-based Liantong Network Communications Technology, the two entities said COC will be more secure than the likes of Android and the iPhone.

It was specifically designed for use on mobile phones and tablets in the mainland and has the much needed backing and approval of the government.

"2014 will be a transition year for Chinese smart devices," a press release distributed during the COS event launch event said. "COS will offer multiple advantages for local users by offering a more China-oriented operating experience, a secure environment and a means for technological collaborations with other Chinese companies."

Among the multiple advantages include improved Chinese language input and voice recognition. It likewise has streamlined interface that will enable users gain faster access as well as integrate with other commonly used Chinese Web sites such as Baidu and Sina Weibo.

However, netizens aren't impressed with the latest Chinese technology.

"COS should stand for Copy Other Systems," a Sina Weibo user wrote.

"[COS] is actually based on a modified version of Linux code, and they dare to boast that it's China's first completely domestic operating system?" one microblogger wrote. "Shameless... The user interface is also ugly and [similar to] Android."

Li Minshu, Director of the Institute of Software at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said COS mainly aims to break the monopoly that foreign companies have on fundamental software.

Wu Yanjun, COS developer, said that aside from mobile phones, COS can be applied to a wide range of devices, including TV set-top boxes.

According to a 2013 survey by consumer insight company Kantar Worldpanel, the Chinese marketplace is dominated by smart phones and tablets made by Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi. All Apple products utilise the company's iOS operating system, while Samsung and Xiaomi both run on Android.

Users of iOS in China reached 60 million at the beginning of 2013, while Android users cover 140 million.