Huawei restricted from using Google’s Android OS

Google has imposed a restriction on Huawei, Chinese telecommunication firm, with respect to the use of its Android mobile phone operating system.

The restriction, which would prevent Huawei from accessing the latest versions of the Android mobile phone OS, comes “in compliance with an order” from the U.S government amid attempts to blacklist the Chinese firm.

“We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications. Huawei will only be able to use the public version of Android and will not be able to get access to proprietary apps and services from Google,” Google sources revealed on Sunday.

Although it didn’t clarify which other apps may be affected, Google said “the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices.”

Being among the world’s top-three largest phone makers and controlling a relatively large proportion of the smartphone market in developing countries, there is no doubt the development will affect Huawei’s multinational smartphone business.

Asides that China and the United States have been engaged in a trade war which saw the duo impose tariffs on imports of goods against each other, the Donald Trump regime has also been at odds with Huawei.

It had expressed doubts about the security of Huawei’s 5G network technology and accused the company of potentially enabling the Chinese government to use the equipment for spying.

On Thursday, May 16, the U.S. government placed Huawei on a trade blacklist — a measure that would undoubtedly have made it difficult for the company to operate with its U.S. counterparts — but subsequently modified the sanction to “prevent the interruption of existing network operations and equipment.”