Google confirms that its app store will continue to function for existing Huawei devices

Google has affirmed that its Google Play app store will continue to function for existing Huawei device users, following reports that the US company will suspend business with the Chinese telecoms giant, which last week was added to a US trade blacklist.

Photo credit: Huawei

Huawei Technologies and over 70 affiliates were added to the US Commerce Department’s Entity List last week on national security grounds, restricting the Chinese company from buying parts and components from US companies without government approval.

“We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications,” said a Google spokeswoman. “For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices.”

Google’s statement follows a Reuters report on Monday that the US internet giant had halted business that requires the transfer of hardware, software, and technical services to the Shenzhen-based firm, currently the world’s second-largest smartphone supplier behind Samsung and reliant on Google’s Android operating system.

Google’s compliance with the US order would mean that future Huawei devices will lose access to Google services including the Google Play app store, as well as popular apps such as Gmail and YouTube. Huawei would only be able to access the company’s open-source license for the Android operating system, but this system excludes many of Google’s own services.

Huawei has said previously that it has developed a proprietary operating system for smartphones and computers as a “Plan B,” should US restrictions jeopardize its business relationship with Google.

Huawei now finds itself in a similar situation to that of rival ZTE last year, which faced a nearly three-month ban from doing business with US companies after it was found to have breached terms of a US sanctions settlement. ZTE’s reliance on US components meant that operations virtually ground to a halt.

On Friday, the US Commerce Department said it may ease some restrictions on Huawei by issuing a temporary, 90-day general license that gives companies time to ensure that their communications networks and equipment are operating reliably.

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