Google cuts off business with Huawei following Trump trade blacklist

The move will prevent Huawei from using Google’s hardware, software and technical services in its upcoming smartphones.

U.S. tech giant, Google LLC has recently suspended business with Chinese smartphone maker Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. following which it will halt the transfer of hardware, software and technical services to Huawei except those publicly available via open source licensing.

According to reliable sources, the move comes in line with the Trump administration’s recent adding of Huawei to a trade blacklist, restricting it from doing business with U.S. firms unless it owns a license. The blacklisting will be immediately enacting restrictions that could also make it extremely difficult for Huawei to do business with U.S. counterparts.

Speaking on the move, a Google spokesperson said that the company is complying with the regulations and is currently reviewing the implication. For its users, Google Play and the security protections offered by Google Play Protect will continue to operate on existing Huawei devices, the spokesperson added.

Reports suggest that the suspension could significantly affect Huawei’s smartphone business outside China as the company will instantly lose access to Google’s Android OS updates. In addition, upcoming versions of Huawei smartphones said to run on Android will also lose access to popular services such as Gmail, Google Play Store and YouTube apps.

Additionally, chipmakers including Qualcomm Inc., Intel Corp., Xilinx Inc. and Broadcom Inc. have also reported to be informing employees regarding a halt in the supply of critical software and components to Huawei until further notice, cite sources.

Nevertheless, details of the specific services affected by the suspension are still under discussions at Google. Huawei attorneys are studying the impact of the blacklist, a Huawei spokesman said.

Reports claim that Huawei, despite recent events, will continue to have access to the version of the Android OS available under the open source license, Android Open Source Project (AOSP). However, its European business, said to be its second largest market, could witness considerable impact as the company licenses its services from Google in Europe.

Source Credit: https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/huawei-loses-google-support-means-no-android-apps-and-updates-1529192-2019-05-20

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-huawei-tech-alphabet-exclusive/exclusive-google-suspends-some-business-with-huawei-after-trump-blacklist-source-idUSKCN1SP0NB