Be nervous if you're a Huawei customer.
Google has reportedly stopped doing business with the Chinese tech company behind the P-series and Mate-series smartphones. Functionally, the revoked Android license means delayed Google updates and, for Huawei's future devices, no access to apps like Gmail or the Play Store.
Google confirmed the report on Saturday evening. "We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications," a company spokesperson wrote in an email. Reuters first reported the news via unnamed sources on Sunday afternoon, and The Verge followed up a couple hours later with -- again, anonymously sourced -- confirmation.
A Huawei spokesperson had this to say:
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.
The move from Google comes in the midst of an ongoing trade war between the United States and China. It was likely prompted by an executive order Donald Trump signed on Wednesday that bars U.S. businesses from using telecommunications equipment made by companies that pose a national security risk.
With the license cut off, Huawei would only have access to the open source version of Android (or AOSP, for Android Open Source Project). Think of it as a more limited version of Google's operating system. Security updates arrive later and core Google apps and services aren't available.
This means no access to the Google Play Store, a critical gateway to the safest and most secure form of Android's app ecosystem. It's a significant threat to Huawei's smartphone business outside of China.
In a tweet late on Sunday, Google assured that its Play Store and Play Protect -- its anti-malware program -- would continue to function on Huawei devices.
Tweet may have been deleted
The specifics of how this will play out and materially affect Huawei customers isn't clear right now, but stay tuned.
UPDATE: May 19, 2019, 8:56 p.m. EDT Added a statement from a Google spokesperson.
UPDATE: May 20, 2019, 2 p.m. AEST Added tweet from Google's Android account.
UPDATE: May 20, 2019, 8:21 a.m. EDT Added Huawei's statement.
