Angela Moon, Reuters:
Alphabet Inc’s Google has suspended business with Huawei that requires the transfer of hardware, software and technical services except those publicly available via open source licensing, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Sunday, in a blow to the Chinese technology company that the U.S. government has sought to blacklist around the world.
And:
Holders of current Huawei smartphones with Google apps, however, will continue to be able to use and download app updates provided by Google, a Google spokesperson said.
It’s too early to truly know the impact of this suspension, but a few things click right away:
- Huawei has confirmed that they’ve built their own operating system as a backstop. I can’t imagine it’s as good as Android or iOS, but if this situation continues, China’s leading smartphone seller will no longer run a US smartphone OS.
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In quarter 1, 2019, Huawei shipped 29.9 million smartphones in China, compared to Apple’s 6.5 million. If Google’s suspension holds, I can only imagine those numbers moving even further apart. Certainly, I can’t see this situation helping Apple in China.
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This could all end quickly, as such trade restrictions can do, if this is a White House negotiating tactic and not a permanent restriction.
Why did this happen?
From the South China Morning Post:
Huawei Technologies and over 70 affiliates were added to the US Commerce Department’s Entity List last week on national security grounds, restricting the company from buying parts and components from US companies without government approval.
More on this as it unfolds.
“… if this situation continues, China’s leading smartphone seller will no longer run a US smartphone OS.”
Which, of course, would all but kill it off in the West. I can’t see any 3rd mobile OS gaining share against Android and iOS.
I’m sure Huawei’s own OS will be completely original work, in every respect…
The harm would be caused by the general tension between the US and China, not directly by Huawei having a third-party OS. Chinese gov could easily induce a “soft boycott,” call it, if things got nasty enough. Could go further, and interfere in all sorts of devious ways with Apple’s intricate supply chain. Etc.
This also send a strong signal to all manufacturer that Android is not a reliable solution and that if another solution is released (lead by Huawei for instance), they will have all incentive to switch for it.
“Certainly, I can’t see this situation helping Apple in China.”
Why would it hurt Apple, if Huawei switches to a one-off OS nobody else cares about? If anything the’d be less competitive in Apple’s premium market segment.
(Realistically, I’d expect Huawei to sell Chinese market phones with open-source Android, anyway.
They can make [continue to make] their own hardware drivers, and the whole point of AOSP is that you don’t need Google’s approval to use AOSP.
And when you’re Huawei you don’t need Google to provide UI code or special apps.)
What. Huawei found a better way to mine, steal, and sell user data than Google?
This is economic war, an USA’s trademark.
The EU is gearing to distance itself from the big USA’s tech firms already.
This is bad news not just for Huawei but for everyone in the industry. If the claims are right it’s a necessary step, but who in the world believes this US administration?
elections have consequences
People from the USA who hate others but are bathed in their own self-loathings. These include large sects of fake christians and sycophants
it is pretty funny… I’m sure there are millions of people who don’t think the USA is digitally doing to other countries exactly the same as they are doing to us.