Huawei Admits To Struggling Without Full Google's Android Support

A Huawei executive admits that the lack of Google apps and services is currently a major problem for the company. The dispute between the Chinese giant and the US government has put the company under a ban in the US market, following a banning order signed by Donald Trump. The company has since had to use Google’s open-source for Android OS on its newest phones.

Though the tech giant has found alternatives for what it used to get from Google, operation with the loss of Google services and apps like Maps, Chrome, and Play Store is “the most challenging part,” as admitted by Joy Tan, VP of public affairs at Huawei US.

Tan additionally said that it will take HarmonyOS years to match the collection of Android services that Google offers.

Google stopped offering full support for Huawei after the Chinese giant was blacklisted by the US Commerce Department back in May. In particular, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that effectively bans it from the country’s communication networks following concerns over national security. Huawei faced allegations that it was closely tied with the Chinese government, which the company repeatedly denies.

After that, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, revoked the Android license of Huawei, meaning the Chinese firm had to switch to the open-source version starting with the Mate 30 devices. The phone maker provided a workaround allowing users to download as well as install apps from the Play Store manually; however, it was eliminated.

Just last week, Huawei announced that it has shipped 185 million phone units in Q1, Q2, and Q3 of this year with a growth rate of 26 percent year over year. But this figure was counted before the launch of phones without Google apps.

Huawei did not respond immediately to a request for comment.