Google will block Huawei from using Android and its services

The Reuters agency revealed in exclusive that Alphabet Inc’s Google has suspended some business with Huawei after Trump’s ban on the telco giant.

The news a bomb, Google has suspended some business with Huawei after Trump’s ban on the Chinese telco giant.

In November, The Wall Street Journal reported that the US Government is urging its allies to exclude Huawei from critical infrastructure and 5G architectures.

The United States is highlighting the risks for national security in case of adoption of Huawei equipment and is inviting internet providers and telco operators in allied countries to ban Huawei.

The decision is a blow to the Huawei and has a significant impact on its strategy.

Just on Thursday, President Trump added Huawei Technologies to a trade blacklist, but on Friday, the U.S. Commerce Department said it was considering to debunk the decision on the company to “prevent the interruption of existing network operations and equipment”.

“Alphabet Inc’s Google has suspended business with Huawei that requires the transfer of hardware, software and technical services except those publicly available via open source licensing.” reported the Reuters.

Google explained that there will be no impact on current owners of Huawei devices running Google software because they will continue to receive updates provided by the US firm.

“We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications,” said a Google spokesperson.

“For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices,”

Of course, the decision will disrupt the commercial activity of Chinese telco firm outside China. Everyone will buy a Huawei device will have no access to updates to Google Android and will have no access to Google services, including the Google Play Store and Gmail and YouTube apps.

Google confirmed that Huawei will only be able to use the public version of Android (Android Open Source Project (AOSP)), but the users of the Chinese giant will not be able to get access to proprietary apps and services from Google.

The Google decision could make it impossible for the Chinese company to sell its devices abroad and other companies could interrupt any trade with the company fearing repercussions.

Intel Corp, Qualcomm Inc, Xilinx Inc, and Broadcom Inc have already announced that they will not supply critical software and components to Huawei until further notice.

Is the Chinese giant ready to face this earthquake?

According to the company, it is already working to develop its own technology fearing a total block from US companies.

“Huawei has said it has spent the last few years preparing a contingency plan by developing its own technology in case it is blocked from using Android. Some of this technology is already being used in products sold in China, the company has said.” reported the Reuters.

“No matter what happens, the Android Community does not have any legal right to block any company from accessing its open-source license,”
March, Eric Xu, rotating chairman of Huawei, told to Reuters.

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Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – Android, Google)

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