Huawei reportedly turned down chance to make Pixel phones
Coveted - Huawei made Google's Nexus 6P last year
Though the Nexus 6P is considered a success, this new report suggests it was originally planned as bigger deal than what eventually transpired. Google apparently sold the idea to Huawei that the device would be available on all four major U.S. carriers, which would have helped the Chinese firm achieve its goal of getting its name on the map throughout the United States.
Having a flagship handset available through the majority of phone-selling U.S. outlets would have been a major boon for Huawei in its efforts to crack America. According to the source, the two firms planned a joint, "multi-hundred-million dollar" ad campaign for the Nexus 6P as part of a higher-profile launch than previous Nexus generations. Somewhere along the line, however, the script changed. The Nexus 6P was locked down as a Google Store exclusive for much of its early life, and while Huawei was allowed to sell handsets through its website, it was not the concerted, Google-aided U.S. launch that Huawei had perhaps envisioned.
Huawei: No branding on Pixel devices? No deal.
When talks of this year's Pixel models came around, Google apparently told Huawei that it wanted three devices for 2016 (though we're expecting just the two HTC-made Pixels). The deal on the table was said to have stipulated that the devices would be Google-branded, with Huawei's name nowhere to be seen. This didn't align with Huawei's ambitions and supposedly, CEO Richard Yu personally ended the conversation there and then.As it turns out, the Pixel phones might actually have helped Huawei realize its dream of establishing a top-end handset through Verizon, with Big Red said to be atop Huawei's carrier wish list. Sure, with no clear branding, the devices wouldn't have helped consumers to familiarize themselves with Huawei. If nothing else, though, they would probably have strengthened company ties with Verizon and its rival network operators.
Despite the breakdown of talks, it's believed that the Google-Huawei bond is not damaged. There's certainly scope for a future collaboration and indeed, there have been rumors that a Huawei-made 'Nexus' tablet could soon be forthcoming. Given how much we've seen of the Pixel devices lately, the comparative lack of recent info regarding said mysterious slab probably means we won't see it tomorrow.
HTC has been tasked with manufacturing Google's new Pixel smartphone line
Of course, the fact that Huawei could have been behind the Pixels has us wondering how the two (or even three) devices might otherwise have turned out. It's unknown how much input HTC has had on the design of the Pixel duo versus Google, but they certainly borrow aesthetic qualities from several of the Taiwanese firm's other handsets. With Huawei at the helm, one can only imagine how the Pixel and Pixel XL -- and perhaps the noted third device -- may have looked.
As Google Pixel day begins tomorrow, Huawei's Mate 9 is perhaps the most exciting of the firm's to-be-announced devices. The phablet is touted as beast in the specs department and with a purported 5.9-inch display, Kirin 960 SoC and up to 6 GB RAM, there's cause to be excited.
Still, Nexus 6P fans will surely be lamenting the fact that Huawei perhaps could have, but chose not to produce the Pixel and Pixel XL.
Do you think the Pixel devices would have benefited from Huawei's development, or are you happy with what's been seen thus far of HTC's efforts? Be sure to have your say in the comments section below.
source: Android Police
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