Huawei could soon get its license to use the Google Play Services version of Android

by Alan Friedman / Oct 11, 2019, 10:15 PM

Huawei could soon get its license to use the Google Play Services version of Android

Huawei could soon be able to tap into some of its U.S. supply chain according to a story published earlier this week in the New York Times. As you probably know by now, Huawei was placed on the U.S. Commerce Department's Entity List for security reasons. Being placed on the list banned the Chinese manufacturer from accessing components and software from its U.S. supply chain; in 2018 the company spent $11 billion on U.S. based supplies. The ban prevents Huawei from licensing the Google Play Services of Android along with core Google apps like the Play Store, Maps, Search, Gmail and YouTube to name a few. As a result, Huawei's recently announced Mate 30 series uses the AOSP open-source version of Android with Huawei's own App Gallery storefront.

Huawei originally forecast that it would ship 300 million phones to surpass Samsung and Apple and become the largest smartphone manufacturer in the world by the end of this year. But without the Google Play Services version of Android on its most technologically advanced phones of the year, sales outside China are expected to suffer. For the first half of 2019, the company delivered 118 million units; while that was up 24% compared to the first half of 2018, Huawei could find itself behind Samsung and Apple by the end of the year. That is exactly where it ended in 2018. And while it did overtake Apple for the first six months of 2019, the iPhone manufacturer has been outperforming expectations with the iPhone 11 family. Huawei will continue to show amazing growth domestically, but it won't be enough to carry Huawei higher than third place until the ban is lifted.

Some U.S. companies have resumed shipping supplies to Huawei

The Times report states that in a meeting held last week, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered officials to give certain U.S. companies the "green light" to start shipping supplies to Huawei. This might not mean anything. You might recall that after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in late June, Trump crowed that China would start buying "tremendous" amounts of U.S. agricultural products from the U.S. and as a result, "U.S. companies can sell their equipment to Huawei. We're talking about equipment where there's no great national security problem with it." This confirmed the thoughts of many that Huawei was being used as a bargaining chip by the U.S. to get favorable terms in any new trade deal with China. As it turned out, China never bought any additional agricultural products from U.S. farmers, and the Trump administration never allowed Huawei to access "U.S. equipment," as the president called it. The licenses required to ship to Huawei are issued by the Commerce Department and a spokesman told the Times that "as of right this moment, the status quo holds."

President Trump reportedly has agreed to allow some U.S. companies to ship supplies to Huawei

The report notes that despite the ban, there are some U.S. companies that have been able to ship to Huawei by labeling their shipments as non-American goods or shipping their supplies to the Chinese company from outside the U.S. Micron Technology, the memory chip supplier that counted Huawei as its biggest customer last year, said in June that the company resumed shipping to Huawei after looking at the rules of the Entity List and deciding that it can legally deliver supplies to the company.

The U.S. considers Huawei to be a national security threat because of a law in China that allows the communist government to demand that the company collect intelligence on its behalf. That has led many to speculate that Huawei's phones and networking equipment contain a backdoor that will send information on U.S. corporations and consumers to Beijing. Huawei has denied this.

Just the other day we told you that the Trump administration has been looking to develop U.S. rivals to Huawei like Cisco and Oracle, but both firms declined. Another plan calls for the U.S. government to help fund Nokia and Ericsson so that the two networking equipment companies can offer more favorable financing terms to their clients. Because Huawei has access to funds from state-run Chinese banks, it can allow customers to pay for its networking equipment over an extremely long period of time. The Trump administration hopes to allow Nokia and Ericsson to match these terms so that it can take business away from Huawei.

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36 Comments

1. mel0524

Posts: 81; Member since: Mar 02, 2017

Once this Huawei ban from using Google lifted the world of cellphone will be favor back to them because theyre phones can compete and with better features than other competitors, by the way is much cheaper price too.

posted on Oct 11, 2019, 11:24 PM 2

2. foreverNOOB

Posts: 167; Member since: Jul 07, 2017

Cheaper?? No, Huawei phones aren't normally cheap, till the point of this entity list fiasco that price starting to drop... but i bet that it is just temporary situation. Even Mate 30 pro isn't cheap as Huawei announced the price for my country, at equivalent of 1,300$! So expensive that even Huawei itself has to put up webpage for people to sign up for their interest.

posted on Oct 11, 2019, 11:41 PM 8

4. meanestgenius

Posts: 22249; Member since: May 28, 2014

Their flagship phones may be expensive, but their non-flagship smartphones are not.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 12:24 AM 8

6. AbhiD

Posts: 844; Member since: Apr 06, 2012

All Huawei branded smartphones are damn expensive. Only non expensive phones are made by their sister brand Honor.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 12:54 AM 6

9. meanestgenius

Posts: 22249; Member since: May 28, 2014

Huawei Y series and Lite series are not expensive.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 2:10 AM 5

15. AbhiD

Posts: 844; Member since: Apr 06, 2012

They are expensive for the specs they offer. Likes of Xiaomi, Asus, Redmi, Realme, Vivo, Oppo destroy them in bang for bucks. Honor though offer VFM products

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 4:33 AM 4

22. meanestgenius

Posts: 22249; Member since: May 28, 2014

Cost more than those you for the most part Yes, but not that Lite series. Expensive? Not at all.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 6:24 AM 4

12. Mikele

Posts: 175; Member since: Nov 19, 2013

Not true only their flagships are expensive

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 3:20 AM 2

16. Cyberchum

Posts: 1093; Member since: Oct 24, 2012

It's down to your definition of expensive.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 5:14 AM 0

31. meanestgenius

Posts: 22249; Member since: May 28, 2014

Exactly, Mikele. While Huawei’s flagships are more in line with the prices of flagships today, their Nova series falls more in line with “affordable flagship” territory and midrange price territory, and their Y and Lite series are more in line with low to upper midrange prices. Their Nova series does a lot of what their subsidiary Honor brand does, which is bring Huawei’s tech innovations from their flagships (for the most part) to a lower price point. Their camera tech alone (hardware wise) is something they keep innovating with on their flagships, and a lot of those innovations get passed along to their lower priced Honor brand, with some going to their own various branded midrange series.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 4:49 PM 4

14. Cicero

Posts: 1137; Member since: Jan 22, 2014

Same are Xiaomi, Nokia and now Samsung with M and A series.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 4:18 AM 1

33. P-YWS

Posts: 151; Member since: Aug 12, 2011

Cheaper is relativel. Compared to the iPhone11 which comes standard with smaller screen-to-frame (i.e. thinner bezel), snail-pace charger (5W is a joke compared to Mate 30 Pro's 45W, 7W wireless charging compared to >25W for Mate 30/Pro's), under-screen finger-print sensor, extra-ordinary low-light photo taking, larger battery time (> 1 days or usage per charge), better retina resolution, …, one can easily argue that iPhone11 is much more expensive than Mate 30 in real terms!

posted on Oct 13, 2019, 1:06 AM 1

27. Venom

Posts: 3709; Member since: Dec 14, 2017

I disagree. I don't think Huawei phones are much competition. If anything, they seem to imitate more than innovate. I don't think Google should reinstate them given the current situation with China and all.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 12:01 PM 1

30. rsiders

Posts: 1973; Member since: Nov 17, 2011

One look at Apple and Google's 2019 camera modules will show you that they're not imitating as much as you say. Plus their camera hardware is innovative more so than anything else on the market by a longshot. Meanwhile Google just tweaks their AI software processing year after year.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 4:33 PM 5

34. P-YWS

Posts: 151; Member since: Aug 12, 2011

Imitate? Yes & No. Who first created the 3-lens smartphone camera? Who first created the notch layout for the front display? Who first created dual-SIM support? Who first created quick/fast charging? Who first created wireless charging? Who first use OLED display? Apple rips off or copies these seven innovations from the original creator. By your definition, would you call Apple an imitator? Or, you would insist Apple being an innovator?

posted on Oct 13, 2019, 1:11 AM 0

39. mackan84

Posts: 551; Member since: Feb 13, 2014

Who first created the 3-lens smartphone camera? -Another step from two-lenses? Who first created the notch layout for the front display? -Probably someone with a prototype first, since sharp, essential and Apple released it with a couple of days and months between. Can’t really copy a screen in such a small time. Who first created dual-SIM support? -Benfone, year 2000. Who first created quick/fast charging? -Don’t know, someone that realized that more power meant faster charge. Who first created wireless charging? -don’t know but I know toothbrushes have had it for years. Who first use OLED display? -Kodak/Sanyo, 1999.

posted on Oct 13, 2019, 6:22 AM 0

41. Dangerously

Posts: 4; Member since: Oct 09, 2019

Google is loosing a tonne of money by not being allowed to work with Huawei. What would you like, Huawei app store or Google Play store? Having Huawei control which apps you can install opens a whole other can of worms.

posted on Oct 13, 2019, 12:01 PM 0

3. chenski

Posts: 774; Member since: Mar 22, 2015

Hopefully by the time mate 30 pro arrives in Australia it will have Google running on it

posted on Oct 11, 2019, 11:48 PM 0

5. meanestgenius

Posts: 22249; Member since: May 28, 2014

This has also got to be in part pressure from companies in the United States that are being affected by not being able to sell product to Huawei. When you blame a company for something with and can provide no proof, and you see companies in your own country suffering because of your political propaganda BS, you tend to switch gears eventually. Huawei is making the most innovative smartphones out today IMO, and if and when they are allowed to use GMS again, you’ll see a shift back to the status quo of Huawei becoming the most dominant player in the smartphone market.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 12:33 AM 10

7. AbhiD

Posts: 844; Member since: Apr 06, 2012

Lol, What a damn clickbait article! Nowhere does it imply that ban on Huawei is being lifted. Forget about it happening as long as Trump is in office. Seriously stop believing that pathetic NYT as news source. It cannot get more Fake than that.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 12:56 AM 2

10. meanestgenius

Posts: 22249; Member since: May 28, 2014

No one said or implied that the ban is being lifted....not completely. What the source article and this one does say/imply is that some U.S. companies will be allowed to do business with Huawei as long as it is not a threat to national security.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 2:19 AM 6

25. Dr.Phil

Posts: 2441; Member since: Feb 14, 2011

Actually I would argue the greatest chance Huawei has to continue to do business with US companies IS with Trump in office. Democrat and Republican senators are against Huawei. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are also against Huawei. It may even be possible we could see a veto proof majority pass legislation over turning anything Trump allows.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 8:16 AM 2

28. Venom

Posts: 3709; Member since: Dec 14, 2017

For good reason. Do you really want the Chinese government to have a backdoor in the US infrastructure? They have already been guilty of a few isolated incidents recently.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 12:03 PM 0

29. Subie

Posts: 2388; Member since: Aug 01, 2015

@Venom, Which recent incidents are these? Please post links if you have them as I'd like to read about it. Protection and control of domestic internet infrastructure is something all nations should be taking very seriously.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 2:13 PM 1

35. P-YWS

Posts: 151; Member since: Aug 12, 2011

Be honest, US government has been having a backdoor on your data and the data of many, if not most, of the people in the world for many years! Your argument is very ignorant. On the other hand, " guilty of a few isolated incidents recently" may be correct. But, who didn't? Are companies like Microsoft, GM, GE, P&G totally clean innocent? If Huawei commits a fault or crime, fine them, punish them, but not to fake the ridiculous national security fault. Backdoor exist because it is used mostly for debugging and machine bring-up. Equipments from Cisco and Qualcomm have backdoor also. In the recent investigation result released by several European government, Huawei equipments were found to have less security flaw than those from Cisco, Ericsson and Nokia! So, by your standard, why aren't the equipment from Nokia and Ericsson banned? If you or US politicians are so concerned of national security, ask Huawei to put the data center in US, while you or any interested US citizens can go to check the operation of these data centers! Stop the nonsense! Be smart!

posted on Oct 13, 2019, 1:20 AM 1

44. Subie

Posts: 2388; Member since: Aug 01, 2015

Why are you deflecting from the topic at hand? Companies like GM, GE, Proctor and Gamble have nothing to do with internet infrastructure. If you're talking about industrial espionage then that is a valid topic but a completely different one. And having a data center in the US will do nothing to stop data from being routed to, or being controlled by China should they choose to do so.

posted on Oct 13, 2019, 5:54 PM 0

42. Dangerously

Posts: 4; Member since: Oct 09, 2019

Every technology news site is reporting that Trump has allowed some U.S. tech companies to trade with China again. Trump will allow more tech companies to trade if the second round or part of trade talks is successful in his corrupted mind. Trump is just playing games as he knows there is no hard evidence of spying found yet. He also has massive pressure with all U.S. tech companies threatening to pull out of the U.S. or face massive job cuts. Having any of this happen would severely hurt Trump in the up coming election.

posted on Oct 13, 2019, 12:33 PM 1

8. redmd

Posts: 1943; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

The Mate 30 Pro is an excellent phone but without Google services, I will have to pass on it.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 1:28 AM 1

11. MihaiRO

Posts: 31; Member since: Jun 07, 2019

All Huawei flagship devices are expensive.Even Mate 30 Pro without Google Play...after few months,the price drop so much.Is not a good deal like this!

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 2:43 AM 4

32. meanestgenius

Posts: 22249; Member since: May 28, 2014

All flagships from OEM’s (for the most part) are expensive, especially those from Apple, Samsung, Google, LG, Sony and some others. Android OEM’s flagships on a whole see a drop in prices after a few months, some more than others. Huawei flagships (from what I’ve seen on Amazon, for example) tend to stay closer to their original launch price for a longer period of time than a lot of other Android OEM’s. That can be attributed to the innovations that they have.

posted on Oct 12, 2019, 4:58 PM 5

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