Samsung has the most to gain from Google putting Huawei on ice
Commentary: Huawei's latest phones have outshone Samsung's flagship models. Perhaps not for long if President Trump's executive order targeting Huawei holds.
Huawei's ambitions to unseat Samsung as the world's largest phone brand by 2020 came crashing to the ground on Sunday following a report that Google will pull support for Huawei's Android phones. Sidelining its most enthusiastic rival could prove to be a windfall for Samsung -- assuming the blacklist status lasts.
Heeding an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last week, Google has cut Huawei off from a longtime business relationship that gives the Chinese brand, and other phone makers, access to Android OS updates, Reuters first reported. It'll also largely deprive Huawei of security updates as well as Google services such as Gmail, Google Assistant, the Google Play store, Google Maps and Google Search. In addition, Google will withhold technical support for future phones. Intel, Qualcomm and Broadcom are also reportedly toeing the US party line, according to Bloomberg.
Huawei's loss could be Samsung's gain if Android fans turn their backs on Huawei's future phones for not having the tools and apps people rely on every day.
"We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications," Google said in a brief statement on Sunday evening. "For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices."
That means Huawei will be able to continue selling current phones and tablets with Android support, such as the P30 and P30 Pro. It isn't clear if Huawei's Honor brand -- which includes the Honor 20 Lite -- will be affected by the executive order.
Huawei isn't cut off from Android completely. It can continue to use a version of Android, called AOSP (Android Open Source Project) when Google releases that build publicly, but that will put Huawei months behind the competition. Google's partners get early access to Android builds so they can make the operating system work as smoothly as possible for buyers. Samsung remains an early access partner.
The Chinese company expressed dismay about Google's decision.
"Huawei has made substantial contributions to the development and growth of Android around the world," a Huawei spokeswoman said in an emailed statement. "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."
It also sought to reassure customers. "Huawei will continue to provide security updates and after-sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablet products, covering those that have been sold and that are still in stock globally," said the company spokeswoman.
The Trump administration's move against Huawei is the latest salvo in a series of escalating security concerns that stretch back to 2012, when Congress warned carriers against using Huawei's networking equipment over fears that Huawei could use this infrastructure to spy on American companies and citizens for the Chinese government. The fact that companies can be used to damage foreign governments highlights tech companies' potent role in politics.
The action to block Huawei's access to Android is considered by some to be a bargaining chip in the US' increasingly tense trade relationship with China. Last year Trump used a similar tactic against Chinese electronics giant ZTE, crippling its business. Trump lifted that ban last August.
Huawei said that Google's desertion will hamper the US' rollout of 5G data networks, according to Reuters, and only slightly slow Huawei's global growth. Huawei is the world's largest telecoms equipment manufacturer, and the world's second-largest phone maker, behind Samsung. Samsung sells displays and chips alongside mobile devices, but isn't a player in networking equipment.
Huawei's ambitions to unseat Samsung as the world's largest phone brand by 2020 came crashing to the ground on Sunday following a report that Google will pull support for Huawei's Android phones. Sidelining its most enthusiastic rival could prove to be a windfall for Samsung -- assuming the blacklist status lasts.
Heeding an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last week, Google has cut Huawei off from a longtime business relationship that gives the Chinese brand, and other phone makers, access to Android OS updates, Reuters first reported. It'll also largely deprive Huawei of security updates as well as Google services such as Gmail, Google Assistant, the Google Play store, Google Maps and Google Search. In addition, Google will withhold technical support for future phones. Intel, Qualcomm and Broadcom are also reportedly toeing the US party line, according to Bloomberg.
Huawei's loss could be Samsung's gain if Android fans turn their backs on Huawei's future phones for not having the tools and apps people rely on every day.
"We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications," Google said in a brief statement on Sunday evening. "For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices."
That means Huawei will be able to continue selling current phones and tablets with Android support, such as the P30 and P30 Pro. It isn't clear if Huawei's Honor brand -- which includes the Honor 20 Lite -- will be affected by the executive order.
Huawei isn't cut off from Android completely. It can continue to use a version of Android, called AOSP (Android Open Source Project) when Google releases that build publicly, but that will put Huawei months behind the competition. Google's partners get early access to Android builds so they can make the operating system work as smoothly as possible for buyers. Samsung remains an early access partner.
The Chinese company expressed dismay about Google's decision.
"Huawei has made substantial contributions to the development and growth of Android around the world," a Huawei spokeswoman said in an emailed statement. "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."
It also sought to reassure customers. "Huawei will continue to provide security updates and after-sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablet products, covering those that have been sold and that are still in stock globally," said the company spokeswoman.
The Trump administration's move against Huawei is the latest salvo in a series of escalating security concerns that stretch back to 2012, when Congress warned carriers against using Huawei's networking equipment over fears that Huawei could use this infrastructure to spy on American companies and citizens for the Chinese government. The fact that companies can be used to damage foreign governments highlights tech companies' potent role in politics.
The action to block Huawei's access to Android is considered by some to be a bargaining chip in the US' increasingly tense trade relationship with China. Last year Trump used a similar tactic against Chinese electronics giant ZTE, crippling its business. Trump lifted that ban last August.
Huawei said that Google's desertion will hamper the US' rollout of 5G data networks, according to Reuters, and only slightly slow Huawei's global growth. Huawei is the world's largest telecoms equipment manufacturer, and the world's second-largest phone maker, behind Samsung. Samsung sells displays and chips alongside mobile devices, but isn't a player in networking equipment.
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