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After Google's snub, what Huawei's next move will be?

Last Updated 20 May 2019, 12:43 IST

Just a three days ago, Google's Android tweeted a message-'' We’re committed to making #Android work for all users. " Ironically, that reassuring statement holds no meaning to Huawei mobile owners anymore, as the search engine giant has halted software support to the beleaguered Chinese firm owing to the US government's gag order.

After Google's Android snub, what's Plan B for Huawei?

Last year, Huawei overtook Apple as the world's second-biggest smartphone-maker in terms of shipments and had set its eyes to dethrone Samsung as the new global leader. But, now with recent developments in the US, that mission looks far tougher to achieve.

It can be noted that Qualcomm, Broadcom, and Intel too, have severed ties with Huawei. Having said that, the first two chip-makers won't make much of a dent on the company, as the latter makes its own modems and processors for its in-house mobile brands including Honor.

But Intel, which supplies silicon iCore chips for Huawei PCs will have a bigger impact and even more so if Microsoft follows suit by disbanding Windows support.

Besides PC and mobile phones, Huawei makes telecom equipment and build 5G infrastructure for close to 40 network carriers around the world except in Japan, Australia, and the US.
Huawei earlier this year, released quarterly results showing $26.8 Billion in revenue, up to 39-percent increase over the previous year same period. The big chunk of the revenue is driven by mobile phone sales.

Unlike other top brands such as Apple and Samsung, which are seeing a decline in sales of their mobiles across the world, Huawei is witnessing positive growth thanks to feature-rich phones getting overwhelming responses from customers in Europe, China, UAE, Saudi Arabia and emerging markets such as India.

The latest predicament is unlikely to deter Huawei to back out just yet if you could sense the undertone of the last sentence of Huawei's official statement over Google halting Android support.

Huawei's official statement:
“Huawei has made substantial contributions to the development and growth of Android around the world. 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".

"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. We will continue to build a safe and sustainable software ecosystem, in order to provide the best experience for all users globally,” Huawei spokesperson said to Deccan Herald.

It looks like, Huawei was anticipating US-China trade talks breakdown and in that eventuality, it has a back-up plan to deploy devices with its own operating system. I am not sure, how far the company has made progress in developing its proprietary mobile and PC OS, but it better come up with long term vision, not like Samsung's Tizen OS, which showed great potential in the beginning, but currently stalled for mobiles (FYI: Samsung smart wearables still run the Tizen OS and are going strong).

Challenges ahead for Huawei

Besides bringing out the mobile OS, Huawei will have its task cut out to build an ecosystem of apps similar to the Google Play store, which is not easy to scale up in a quick time. It has the hard task of inviting all popular developers to create mobile apps and games for its customers to use on Huawei devices.

For now, all existing Huawei and Honor mobile owners need not worry much, as both Google and the Huawei have assured that the devices will continue to get Android updates, after-sale service in addition to Google Play support. Also, security from Google Play Protect will keep functioning. Consumers can even buy the recently launched models such as P30 Pro, P30 Lite and others, which are in store stocks.

We expect Huawei to come out with a solid action plan at least in the proprietary mobile OS front before the end of 2019. Stay tuned.

Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps and more on personal technology only on DH Tech.

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(Published 20 May 2019, 12:41 IST)

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