Google has with immediate effect suspended business operations with Chinese phone manufacturing company, Huawei, a forced move that will have a dramatic impact on Huawei devices worldwide.
According to Reuters, Google was forced into suspending
business with Huawei that “requires the transfer of hardware and software
products.”
“Huawei Technologies Co Ltd will immediately lose access to updates to the Android operating system, and the next version of its smartphones outside of China will also lose access to popular applications and services including the Google Play Store and Gmail app,” Reuters noted.
This effectively means no further Android security updates
for devices new and old, including the recent P30 and P30 Pro, Mate 20 Pro, and
many more.
Google’s actions come after the U.S. Commerce Department’s
announcement on Wednesday, which placed Huawei and some 68 affiliates on a
so-called Entity List, a trade blacklist, following an executive order signed
by U.S. President Trump.
This is the same list that ZTE was added to and subsequently removed from, over the course of 2018, which caused it massive disruption. Huawei is now effectively forbidden from buying parts and components from U.S. companies without U.S. government approval – which includes Android.
This is, of course, a massive blow if the story is accurate.
One of Huawei’s arms, its HiSilicon chip division, had stated it has “long been
ready” for any ban, while Huawei has previously mentioned it has been preparing
for six years or more for any ban of Android. Honor, a sub-brand of Huawei, had
been set to launch the Honor 20 on Tuesday May 21, in London — it’s unclear
what will now happen.
The Chinese giant said in a statement earlier this week that
it was “against the decision made by the Bureau of Industry and Security of the
U.S. Department of Commerce.”
Techunzipped has contacted Huawei and Google for comment.
This is a developing story.
