Huawei’s next mobile phone will not come with Google’s popular apps such as YouTube and Maps. Google confirmed the withdrawl from the phone and said it is because of the US government ban on sales to Huawei.
This also means the next phone will not have access to the Google Play app store which could leave customers not being able to access popular apps. Analysts suggest Huawei will struggle to sell a phone without Google’s apps.
The Android operating system is an open-source software so manufacturers can offer it on tablets or mobile phones. Companies need an agreement with Google if they want to include its popular apps such as Maps, Pay, Search, Photos, Play Store and YouTube. Google has not confirmed whether it has applied for permission to offer its apps to Huawei.
Huawei said in a statement: “Huawei will continue to use the Android OS and ecosystem if the US government allows us to do so. Otherwise, we will continue to develop our own operating system and ecosystem.”
Anyone who currently has a Huawei phone will still have access to all Google apps.
Huawei is just weeks away from launching its next flagship phone, the Mate 30 Pro. This will be its first phone since the US restrictions were applied. Consumers who want to have their new phone will be expecting to have access to all the major apps they are used to – including Maps and YouTube. Without them, Huawei’s phones will seem a lot less appealing which will lead into a low level of sales.
