PALO ALTO, May 20 (WNM staff) - Google has decided to suspend business contacts with Huawei, which virtually deprives the latter of access to technologies and software, particularly to updates of the Android mobile software installed on smartphones it produces. The Chinese company has stated that it will continue servicing smartphones across the globe.On May 15, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring emergency to protect US information and telecommunications technology from external threats. It became known later that the US Commerce Department blacklisted the Chinese telecom giant Huawei and 70 affiliates over alleged threat to national security.
In August 2018, Trump signed an order banning US government agencies from using the equipment manufactured by Huawei and another Chinese company ZTE.
What does the ban mean for Huawei users?
For the coming months, nothing should change for Huawei users. But the impact at the latest when Google introduces the new Android version 10 Q in autumn. So far the Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro, Mate 20 X, P30 and P30 Pro were on the list for an update. If it stays that way, Google will not offer a version update for Android. Of course, this also applies to the devices that will soon be on the market. The successor of the Mate 20 Pro is to be expected in October. Huawei has announced to launch its foldable Mate X smartphone on the market, which also will be impacted.
Google allegedly no longer wants to provide new Huawei devices with software. This means that the Huawei products might come without the navigation app Google Maps, the mail program Gmail or the Youtube. They couldn't be downloaded officially either, because the Play Store wouldn't be there either. Apps can be installed directly as APK files. But then one should check carefully whether they come from a reputable source. And not all Android apps are available as APK files beyond the Play Store. For most Android users, such research is too time-consuming and dangerous. If the Play Store is missing, Android is worthless on Huawei smartphones in a certain way.
An option for Huawei could be to introduce a different operating system. The company have been working for several years on their own operating system, which is known as Kirin OS. The operating system has inherited its name from the in-house Kirin processors that are now built into smartphones.