Google Cuts Ties with Major Android Manufacturer
Google has stopped working with Chinese manufacturer Huawei, following a US government supply ban. It will have limited effect on Huawei smartphones and tablets that use the Google Android operating system, but will be a huge long-term problem for Huawei.
The move comes after an executive order from the US President that restricts the way American companies can supply the Chinese-based firm. While attributed to security concerns involving the Chinese government, the order was made under economic emergency powers. (Source: theguardian.com)
Android-based Huawei handsets will continue to work and will receive app updates through Google Play as usual. Google-created apps such as Gmail will also continue working.
Updates Likely Delayed
The big difference is with updates to Android itself, in regard to both security and new phone editions that use the operating system. In this case, Google will no longer supply the relevant software to Huawei (which it currently does) well in advance of a new Android edition being made public.
Huawei will instead have to get the open source version of the underlying code - meaning it can't legally call its handsets "Android phones," which also means Huawei won't be able to roll out updates on its own (as most phone manufacturers currently do). The same will apply to security updates, meaning there could be a significant delay between a security flaw being made public and Huawei handsets getting the necessary patch on time.
That means Huawei could be many months behind its competitors in releasing new phones running the latest edition of Android software. It also means future handsets may have to ship without popular Google-based apps being preinstalled, including the Google Play store itself.
Notifications May Cease
Apps might also lose some integration with Google tools. It could stop apps from being able to cast video to televisions or even stop notifications from working properly. (Source: bbc.co.uk)
In the long run it may not be practical for Huawei to continue making Android handsets. Another option is to develop its own operating system similar to Android. That could create a chicken-and-egg situation with users not interested in a system without popular apps being available, and developers not interested in making apps for an unpopular system. This is similar to what happened to the Windows phone and its operating system (and apps).
What's Your Opinion?
Is Google right to comply with the supply ban in this way? Do security concerns deter you from buying Chinese-made gadgets? Is it viable for even a giant manufacturer to develop a completely new mobile operating system?
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Comments
Trump does it again
I'm in the UK, with a Huawei phone, I might add - and jolly good it is too, but maybe not for much longer, since that egotistic, power-crazy twit of a president has demonstrated, once again, that he has absolutely no grasp of knock-on effects and/or collateral damage arising from his impulsive so-called "executive orders", which, in my opinion, should not apply to this situation. It's ol' Trumpy baby, king of the USA (or so he seems to think), flexing his muscles (and foot spur bones) once again, and trying to rule the rest of the world. Why should his executive orders effect other countries? That man just does not realise (or does he?) the problems he creates by not thinking things through properly and ignoring his advisors. Never was a politician and he sure as hell is not learning to be one now. Incidentally, there are two people in this world who, when they appear on TV, inspire me to think about throwing something heavy at the screen. Margaret Thatcher was one and Donald Trump is the other!
Common Market
so it is your opinion that the common Market should also refrain from making any rules that might affect the USA users of whatever product the EU decides needs changing? We are all one gigantic marketplace and everyone should pay attention to the UK users more so than their own users/voters/people.
your phone might well be good for you, but Huawei is NOT good for the United States. Mr Trump cannot shut them down since they are a foreign company, but he can issue Executive Orders that prevent USA companies from dealing with those foreign companies who are anathema to the USA.
perhaps you could convince Google to move its entire facilities to the UK so the UK can decide what to do? until then, a United States of America company must abide by the rules of the United States and NOT the rules of some user in the UK.
Huawei
devolente_10330
I would remind my friend from the UK of two things
The first is you guys have your hands full just trying to hang on to your country at the present time.
The second and more germane to the discussion would be a paraphrased quote
of the German philosopher Johann Goethe:
"We know accurately only when we know little; with knowledge doubt increases."
So with that said; curb your anti-Trump tirade and I'll not speak of PM May.
James Douglass
Kansas, USA
Yup, trump does it again
The audacity, instead of concerning himself with the impact of the Huawei "ban" on retail purchasers in the UK Trump has aligned himself with the interests of US security. How dare he.
Huawei
This seems a very foolish move by google and USA government if Huawei implements their own code and operating system google and usa government will have no back doors into it to see what is going on as they have now with present worldwide in use android system. Better the devil (if there is one in this case ) you know and are able to counteract.
Thank you Mr President
Screw Huawei, they're controlled by the Chinese govt and more than likely have Chinese spyware on their phones. Trump is acting in America's best interests, and I for one thank him for it.
I think this is where the
I think this is where the problem is:
"... While attributed to security concerns involving the Chinese government, the order was made under economic emergency powers. (Source: theguardian.com)"
If it's a Security Concern, address it that way so that the move is solid. And if the real reason is economic, it needs to be addressed as such. To claim it's a security issue will be hard to retract without looking stupid. An economic measure can be walked back 5 minutes later with no serious explaining to do.
So, if it's a security issue, what can make it compliant? Restrict the tech and provide a crippled edition? Install security measures? I know... stupid questions, but it will be asked since this was a 'Security concern'. And there should be changes if it is valid.
PS. EVERY major-player country spies. They get away with what they can, and look foolish when caught. China is no worse than the US or UK or Russia or etc.
It's Not About the Trade Imbalance
I support President Trump in his actions to punish the Chinese for their unfair trade and business practices. I'm not overly concerned with the trade imbalance between China and the U.S. Trade imbalances in and of themselves are not always a bad thing. Sometimes they happen simply because one country has a product or products to sell on the world market that are high in demand and people are willing to pay the price to purchase these products. If that country in return has little to offer in return it is probable that there will be a trade imbalance between the two countries and that's fine.
What upsets me more is the billions of dollars the U.S. loses annually due to the theft of intellectual property by the Chinese. This intellectual property is not only stolen via Chinese government hackers; often it is due to their business practices whereby if a company wants to do business in China they must agree to turn over blueprints, software and other intellectual property to the Chinese government which is then used to reproduce their version of our products and sell them at a lower rate eventually driving the company who shared their secrets with China out of business. Worse is the fact that some of this shared information can often be used by the Chinese military against our own country and our allies.
It's not bad enough that they have the world's largest standing army, the second largest blue water navy, and a large fleet of aircraft using technology stolen from our military and military suppliers. Sometimes tough choices and sacrifices need to be made for the greater good; like our ancestors did during WW I and WW II, giving up so many things that our spoiled generations take for granted in order to defeat the enemy. That said, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to defeat our modern day foes no matter the sacrifice and I fully support President Trump's actions. #TRUMP2020