Huawei Wants 'Open Android Ecosystem' Following Reports That It Won’t Use GMS

In May 2019, US President Trump removed Huawei of its US supply chain, which, at that time, gives the company a bleak future. The US blacklisting was for the 5G networking equipment of the Chinese company. Still, it translates to the consumer goods segment of the company, including the inability to use Google apps and US-supplied mobile processors. But, these issues made Huawei more independent, and right now, it doesn’t need Google’s mobile services and other Google-made apps to launch its smartphones and other devices successfully.

Huawei’s Latest Statement

Earlier today, several sites reported that the Chinese telecom and electronics giant Huawei would not want to use Google Mobile Services even if the US trade ban is lifted. The reports stem from a recent statement of Huawei’s Austria Country Manager Fred Wangfei, as reported by Der Standard, through WinFuture’s Roland Quandt. Wangfei said that Huawei wants to be independent of the US since it is hard to tell if there is another blockage after the current one.

Despite the US ban, Huawei did an impressive job with the Mate 30 even without the help of its US suppliers. But, Wangfei also said that even if the US ban is removed and Huawei regains access to Google Mobile Services, Huawei would not want to use them again. After a few hours, however, a Huawei spokesperson told The Verge through an email that “Our first choice is the open Android ecosystem, including GMS (Google Mobile Services) — that was what helped us become number two in the world for smartphone shipments.”

The response from the Chinese tech giant does not refute Wangfei’s earlier statements about not using Google Mobile Services and apps in its future devices.

Huawei’s Feat in 2019

A recent report from Counterpoint Research reveals that Huawei is the second-largest brand for 2019. Despite the current sanctions, the Chinese telecom and electronics giant surpassed Apple and got 40 percent of the market share, the report adds. The most significant contributor to its success is China, which comprises 60 percent of the company’s overall shipments

However, the rising competition outside China undermines the company’s value proposition. While Huawei is now developing its own operating system, the report claims that it is nearly impossible for the company to compete with other Android brands outside its home country.