Here's Why Huawei Users Shouldn't Be Too Worried Following Google's Android Ban
Huawei has developed its own operating system (OS) for both smartphones and computers.
By Katrina Khairul Azman — 21 May 2019, 03:17 PM
On 20 May, Google suspended business operations with Huawei Technologies and revoked the telecom giant's license to Google's Android operating system (OS) and other services
The move followed the US government's decision to add the Chinese company to a trade blacklist on 16 May, barring US companies from doing business with Huawei unless they received a special license, ABC reported.
Since the news broke, the US Commerce Department effectively delayed the ban by 90 days on 21 May
Within the 90-day period, Huawei will still be able to purchase American-made goods and certify OS updates with Google for existing handsets.
Nevertheless, the company is still "prohibited from buying American parts and components to manufacture new products without license approvals that likely will be denied".
Any future Huawei smartphones will come without Google services or any sort of networking hardware.
Despite the significant blow to its global smartphone and tablet business, Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei is confident that the company is "ready" to face the consequences
"Huawei's growth may slow, but only slightly," Ren told Japanese reporters at the telecommunications equipment maker's headquarters in Shenzhen, China.
"The current practice of US politicians underestimates our strength," he said, adding that the company has done nothing that violated the law.
As the world's second largest smartphone manufacturer and key 5G network equipment provider, Huawei reassured its users that existing devices would not be affected by the ban
They will not lose access to downloads and updates to Google apps, Google, and Android as existing phones are certified so that Google can provide them with updates and downloads without going through Huawei.
In anticipation of an emergency situation like this, Huawei had developed its own operating system (OS) for both smartphones and computers
The project to build an alternative to Google's Android OS has been years in the making, after Chinese telecommunications equipment maker ZTE was banned from using American products and services in 2012.
"We have prepared our own operating system, if it turns out we can no longer use these systems [Android], we will be ready and have our plan B," Huawei's mobile chief Richard Yu Chengdong said in the interview, according to South China Morning Post.
The Chinese company revealed that the backup systems were to only be used in extenuating circumstances.
"We don't expect to use them, and to be honest, we don't want to use them," a Huawei spokesperson said on Thursday.
"Huawei has made substantial contributions to the development and growth of Android around the world. As one of Android’s key global partners, we have worked closely with their open-source platform to develop an ecosystem that has benefitted both users and the industry," the statement read.
"We fully support our partners' operating systems – we love using them and our customers love using them. Android and Windows will always remain our first choices," the spokesperson added.
"We will continue to build a safe and sustainable software ecosystem, in order to provide the best experience for all users globally," Huawei told The Verge.