Google vs. Huawei: The Tech Titans Clash

“Google vs. Huawei” has been a story that everyone in the tech world has been following for years. What started as a blossoming cooperation has turned into a complex conflict, severely impacting smartphone consumers, developers, and the global digital scene. If you’ve ever wondered why some Huawei phones don’t have Google apps or what HarmonyOS is all about, you’re in the correct spot. Let’s dissect this tech giant conflict using the most recent data and a precise timetable.

The Honeymoon Period: A Thriving Partnership

“Google vs. Huawei” has been a story that everyone in the tech world has been following for years. What started as a blossoming cooperation has turned into a complex conflict, severely impacting smartphone consumers, developers, and the global digital scene. If you’ve ever wondered why some Huawei phones don’t have Google apps or what HarmonyOS is all about, you’re in the correct spot. Let’s dissect this tech giant conflict using the most recent data and a precise timetable.

May 2019: The Storm Breaks – US Sanctions

The U.S. government’s decision to add Huawei to its Entity List in May 2019 marked a turning point. This action substantially limited American businesses’ ability to do business with Huawei, citing national security concerns. For Google, this meant they could no longer license GMS to new Huawei handsets.

This change was seismic. Although GMS was still available on current Huawei phones, these crucial Google services and apps could not be included in any new models released after the prohibition. This immediately created a big hurdle for Huawei outside of China, where Google apps are virtually vital for smartphone users.

The Immediate Aftermath: A Search for Alternatives

Following the prohibition, Huawei had to quickly adjust. Although they could still utilize the open-source version of Android (AOSP), it was extremely difficult to create an engaging user experience without the Play Store. They started actively promoting the AppGallery, its own app store, and urged developers to publish their products there.

For customers, this meant a tough option. Although they lacked the well-known Google ecosystem, Huawei phones produced after mid-2019, such as the Mate 30 and P40 series, were hardware powerhouses. While there were workarounds and alternate app sources, the simplicity and integration of GMS were sadly missed by many overseas customers.

The Clash

Google’s move to stop licensing its Android mobile operating system to Huawei could deal a huge blow to the Chinese tech giant’s ambitions to become the top player in smartphones globally.

The U.S. tech conglomerate has suspended business activity with Huawei that involves the transfer of hardware, software, and key technical services. Google made the move in order to comply with Washington’s decision to put Huawei on the so-called “Entity List,” meaning American firms need to get a license to sell products to the Chinese firm.

It means Huawei can no longer license Google’s proprietary Android operating system and other services that it offers. Instead, Huawei is now only able to use a public version of Google’s operating system through the Android Open Source Project. It means future Huawei phones will not have the Google services that users have come to expect on Android devices.

Read Full Article Here: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/20/google-stops-some-business-with-huawei-could-hit-its-global-smartphone-ambitions.html

August 2019: The Birth of HarmonyOS

Recognizing the long-term repercussions of the ban, Huawei officially announced its own operating system, HarmonyOS (Hongmeng OS in China), in August 2019. At first, it was marketed as a flexible operating system for a range of smart devices, including wearables and smart TVs, as well as a possible backup plan for smartphones.

Huawei stressed that HarmonyOS was a microkernel-based distributed operating system intended for a smooth “super device” experience across many devices, rather than just another Android fork.

2020-2021: Building the Ecosystem and the Rise of HarmonyOS 2.

Over the coming years, Huawei spent money into creating HarmonyOS and extending its AppGallery. They kept improving their own services and tried to draw in additional developers, even while the majority of their foreign phones were still running AOSP.

A big milestone happened in June 2021 with the official launch of HarmonyOS 2.0 for smartphones, tablets, and wearables. This release was an important step, allowing many current Huawei devices (even those originally running Android) to update to HarmonyOS. HarmonyOS 2.0 demonstrated Huawei’s strong commitment to creating an autonomous ecosystem, even if it is still theoretically compatible with Android apps. It promised improved performance, strong security measures, and a consistent experience across devices.

Today: Two Distinct Paths

The “Google vs. Huawei” scene as of late 2023 and early 2024 is as follows:

  • Google’s Dominance (Outside China): Google’s Android with GMS continues to be the standard smartphone experience for the majority of the world. Even non-Huawei Android manufacturers continue to rely significantly on Google’s ecosystem.
  • The Independent Ecosystem of Huawei: Huawei has carved out its own route. In China, HarmonyOS is booming, powering millions of devices and rapidly extending its user base. New Huawei phones for outside markets still rely on AppGallery and Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) rather than GMS. While the absence of Google apps remains a problem for many outside of China, Huawei continues to innovate in hardware and enhance its software experience. Their goal is to create a comprehensive ecosystem supported by HarmonyOS that includes wearables, tablets, smartphones, laptops, and smart home appliances.

What Does This Mean for You?

  • If you own an older Huawei device (pre-mid-2019): Your phone continues to have full GMS access and functions as it always has.
  • If you are considering a newer Huawei device (post-mid-2019): Be advised that neither the Google Play Store nor any other Google apps will be pre-installed. You’ll have to look into alternatives for Google services and rely on the AppGallery for apps.
  • For developers, Huawei’s AppGallery offers a chance to connect with a sizable user base, especially in China.

The intricate relationship between technology, geopolitics, and innovation is demonstrated by the Google vs. Huawei controversy. The long-term development of Huawei’s HarmonyOS and its worldwide influence is still an intriguing tale to follow, even though the near future probably sees these two tech behemoths continuing on their different paths.