Huawei's new phone lacks Google access after U.S. ban
  • WORLD

  • 17:37 19 September 2019

Huawei's new phone lacks Google access after U.S. ban

Huawei launches what could be the world’s smartest 5G phone on Thursday, but its fate in Europe will hang on whether customers will buy a device lacking access to software and apps supported by Google, ONA reports citing Reuters. 

Chinese telecoms giant will showcase its Mate 30 range in Munich, Germany, in its first unveiling of an all-new phone since President Donald Trump hit the Shenzhen-based company with an export ban in May: “The launch will be the most watched ever. Despite all the concerns surrounding Huawei, and the challenges it faces, it remains defiant and prepared to soldier on,” said telecoms and media analyst Paolo Pescatore.

Washington effectively banned U.S. firms from supplying Huawei in May, alleging the Chinese firm is a national security risk as its equipment could be used by Beijing to spy, which Huawei has repeatedly denied. The No.2 smartphone maker expects the U.S. ban to cost it $10 billion.

Note that Mate 30 range will run on an open-source version of Android - and not on the current version licensed from Google, a source familiar with the matter said. The smartphones will not be able to use Google Mobile Services to use the Play Store and download apps like Gmail, Youtube or Maps. Instead, Huawei will offer its own interface that will allow users to access some Google apps.

ONA

Tags:

RELATED NEWS