Huawei Phones to Cease Receiving Google Security & Android Updates

Tyrx on 20/05/2019 - 06:08
Last edited 21/05/2019 - 01:44 by 1 other user

Huawei has been blacklisted for trade in the United States. The impact is that Google announced they will cease to provide Huawei phones with security & Android updates, and the phones will not be shipped with Google Play Services.

You might still be able to receive updates if Huawei launch their own OTA update system, but switching to that means that all your Google Play Services apps (including the play store) will likely cease to work. You could potentially side-load the play store, but it will be interesting to see if there are any certification issues with play Store access under such circumstances.

Mobile Google Huawei

Comments

      • mychips on 23/05/2019 - 16:13
        +6

        China hasn't really killed people left right and center - they've imprisoned them. If anything, they've only killed people in their own country so you could say they've killed people in the center.

        USA, on the other hand, has killed people left right and center - they killed people in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen. Left right and center!

        • resisting the urge on 24/05/2019 - 10:00

          How do you know?

          When the 5 eyes renditions; who knows?
          When China loses 'prisoners'; who knows?
          When SkyNet puts 'smart fences' around people; who will know?

          • mychips on 24/05/2019 - 10:59
            +2

            @resisting the urge: Yeah, well no-one knows but the truth of the matter as it is awfully complex and much of it hidden. Democracies and non democracies alike are all in dark times. The world is a dangerous place as it stands and money and power trumps everything else. People that believe that China is some villainous country ought to look at their own in the same critical light, as the things done in the name of democracy in the past 20 years are nothing short of criminal. They will find very unsavory things by only scratching the surface…

  • shaybisc on 20/05/2019 - 10:55
    +3

    Has the Chinese government got any more control of Huawei than it does of the other Chinese phone manufacturers?

    • payless69 on 20/05/2019 - 13:57
      +2

      why would they tell?

    • mskeggs on 20/05/2019 - 20:34
      +10

      Huawei has investment from the PLA, and are viewed as being closer to the Chinese gov than others.
      It would be trivially easy to insert a kill switch in 5g gear than turned it all off in exactly 3000 days, for example.
      If things deteriorated and war was imminent, that could be very helpful.
      If relations improved, they could always roll out a patch for a “bug”.
      This is the kind of thing that is why governments are nervous about trusting Huawei in the 5g core. Banning the phones is just a bit of collateral damage.

      • Blitzfx on 20/05/2019 - 21:41
        +13

        This is the first comment I've seen here in months which explains the root issue of the Huawei bans.

        https://www.cnet.com/news/the-huawei-controversy-everything-…

        I'm all for consumers using huawei phones, in non-government related duties, but I don't want a dictatorship access to our critical infrastructure.

        By Chinese law, Chinese individuals and organisations must, if asked, co-operate with intelligence work (espionage).

        • macrocephalic on 21/05/2019 - 12:10

          By Australian law, Australian individuals and organisations must, if asked, co-operate with intelligence work (espionage).

          • [Deactivated] on 21/05/2019 - 15:08

            @macrocephalic: Wait I don't think this is true. Isn't the difference that in Australia and most other democratic countries a court order is required? So in the instance of crime etc yes this will probably be granted but companies are in no way required to share data for purposes of information gathering by the government.

        • sixsense on 21/05/2019 - 13:36

          By US law, US individuals and organisations must (and other countries on USA liking too), if asked, co-operate with CIA

          • Blitzfx on 21/05/2019 - 17:32
            +2

            @sixsense: Between a Western Democracy, who shares similar beliefs, values, culture and most importantly freedom & transparency, or a Chinese Dictatorship who's authoritarian rule censors information (completely blocked wikipedia), stamps every citizen with a social credit score, imprisons people protesting in any form, and has concentration camps for the Uighur people, you would rather pick the latter.

            How foolish.

            • jkcat on 21/05/2019 - 17:55
              +1

              @Blitzfx: Understandable. Western culture currently dominates the world and people who benefit from it would love to continue that way.

              • Blitzfx on 21/05/2019 - 18:08
                -1

                @jkcat: What an asinine comment. It has absolutely nothing to do with who is dominating the world stage.

                An analogy would be as if Australia never apologised to the Aborigines for the lost generation, continued to oppress them, provide no compensation and support, and erase & block the past atrocities committed against them from history.

                And you support such a government.

                • jkcat on 21/05/2019 - 18:12
                  +1

                  @Blitzfx: Come back to me when Aboriginals set off bombs or knifing citizens in CBDs. Never heard of Uyghurs doing such? Understandable.

                  • Blitzfx on 21/05/2019 - 18:26
                    +7

                    @jkcat: What a racist. Don't even have to look up if your claims are true or not;

                    Come back to me when Aboriginals set off bombs or knifing citizens in CBDs. Never heard of Uyghurs doing such? Understandable.

                    You're saying if one or a few people from a particular group are causing problems, it warrants sending them all into concentration camps.
                    And forcing the entire populace to install government spyware on their phones.

                    Come back to me when you find morals. It's abhorrent you would defend a dictatorship.

                    • jkcat on 21/05/2019 - 18:30

                      @Blitzfx: What's the morals when Caucasians eliminate Aboriginals and steal their land? Of course an apology is all that need according to your moral standard. I honestly hope that you'd be happy to vacate your place when some Aboriginal people come up to claim it back. Oh sorry it won't happen because they are all killed, likely by your ancestor.

                      • Blitzfx on 21/05/2019 - 18:34
                        +2

                        @jkcat: So now your argument is how far Australia must go to compensate Aborigines? What a pathetic attempt at diverting the argument.

                        Australia has publicly acknowledged it's past crimes and attempted to provide compensation.

                        China has done nothing but reverse course and prosecute the minority. And continue to double down on it.

                        • jkcat on 21/05/2019 - 18:42
                          -2

                          @Blitzfx: Not necessarily, the killed Aboriginals are stone dead and will not revive. Not to offend but how about having your own family killed and get compensated/apologised and move on? This happened to Aboriginals and how do they feel? Uyghur Terrorism is a thing and you just can't get off your bloody highhorse.

                        • lostn on 23/05/2019 - 09:27

                          @Blitzfx:

                          Australia has publicly acknowledged it's past crimes and attempted to provide compensation.

                          Australia has never apologised to Aborigines for taking their lands. They have only apologised to the Stolen Generation, a minority group of Aborigines from the 20th century.

                          • Blitzfx on 23/05/2019 - 10:43
                            +1

                            @lostn: Ok and so the (profanity) what? Was I talking about lands being stolen in particular?

                            The fact a lot of Australians even know about it is because knowledge and history like this is taught in school, sanctioned and supported by the state, and not actively censored like they do in China when it comes to crimes the Government have committed.

                            It's like as if you can't read and can't understand the point of this thread.

                            • mychips on 23/05/2019 - 15:23

                              @Blitzfx: There are rampant human rights violations in Australia and US, to believe otherwise would mean that you either are selective in your understanding of USA and Australia's actions or just ignore violations in Naaru, Manus Island, Gmo Bay, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen.

                    • RefusdClassification on 23/05/2019 - 08:37
                      +1

                      @Blitzfx: I'll defend China then. China is thriving under a dictatorship. Under the Communist Party, China went from being a third world backwater to a highly industrialized, highly educated society that produces most of the world's manufactured goods and will soon become the world's largest economy. All deadbeat Australians can do is dig holes in the ground and flip overpriced houses whilst flogging our country's most valuble assets off to affluent Chinese. Australia can no longer even make simple things like toasters and kettles.

                      When I watched "Man in a High Castle", I though: "The wrong side won the war. The World would be much better off if Axis had triumphed." Democracy is the worst of all possible systems, and probably the most corrupt too - all politicians and major political parties in our country are on the take. Democracy is "taxation without representation". Freedom of speech in democracies is a myth; anyone who publicly disagrees with the ruling elite is crucified (eg Israel Folau for paraphrasing 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ).

                    • elseye on 23/05/2019 - 11:42

                      @Blitzfx: You are talking about ideality and reality, but you will never find a perfect way to balance both. Then what will you do? Yes, if you have ever been hurt by someone, this "someone" and related ones got be hated by you mostly, but if not then you will give a more objective pov mostly. However, it is NOT that easy to put you foot in other's shoes.

            • mychips on 23/05/2019 - 13:32

              @Blitzfx: Both the US and China have had cases of abhorrent human rights abuse, only difference is that the USA inflicts that on foreign sovereign nations in the form of war, torture and sanctions such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Yemen whilst China does so to its own people namely the Uighurs and Tibetans.

              Before you start justifying the USA's behavior in the past 3 decades, please note that they went against the advice UN and human rights bodies in many of those wars and started many of them under false pretenses.

              You can be a sheep and follow US propaganda and be blind to their atrocious behavior or follow Chinese propaganda and believe that China isn't the devil but they're both equally as bad. The only difference is that US is an ally whilst China is our biggest economic partner.

              Why don't you grow a brain and actually learn the historical context of this trade war and the geopolitics of the two countries before making such an uninformed statement?

              • Blitzfx on 24/05/2019 - 04:01
                +1

                @mychips: Speak for yourself.

                The difference is one is actively and DELIBERATELY committing human rights violations against it's own citizens and actively covering it up and sending anyone who protests it to jail, and one is doing it as a result of collateral damage and bad intel and with the goal of stopping particular

                Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen.

                No one's justifying going to war here but let me highlight the difference in objectives between the US and China.

                Iraq had a leader who committed genocide among other things. And you would happily believe the US strictly went there for oil.
                Syria was in revolt because of an oppressive regime
                Libya's leader brought the revolution upon himself when he took the next step and killed protestors among many other factors.
                Afghanistan housed an entire organisation which brought war onto American soil and murdered thousands of innocent civilians. You think any nation and it's people are going to stand idle and do nothing? Many nations supported America in bringing down Al-Qaeda because they all faced the same possible threat.
                I didn't know America was actively partaking in the deliberate targeted murder of civilians in Yemen. Would you care to provide a source? Are you claims still valid after the nation attempted to cease support, after listening to criticism by it's people (and not censor and arrest them)? Where do you find transparency and swift action like this in China? Please tell me.

                If you grow a brain and look at the historical context, all of those conflicts where they actively participated had a goal fundamentally rooted in the freedom and equality of each human being.

                Naaru, Manus Island, Gmo Bay

                Are we not attempting to do something about it? Is that not already on our to-do list? At least Australians are made aware of this and are largely outraged.

                China is doing nothing of the sort for it's citizens. It would have censored that information. It's doing the opposite so that the government can continue to operate unchecked, unopposed and rule with an iron fist.
                Any anyone criticising or even bringing up it's problems will be swiftly arrested and sent to prison.

                If you grew a brain, you'd notice that each has it's problems, the real difference being one who is doing it for the freedom and security of people, the other is not.

                I would rather join the side where I can say anything I want about it's leader, that isn't factually incorrect than the side which arrests me for throwing paint over a portrait of it's dictator.

      • Haha Hihi Hoho on 21/05/2019 - 10:19

        so is that why only huawei got the ban? that doesnt mean CCP inteligent ops cant just barge in to other brand offices and demand access to their phones as well right?

    • Albert10 on 20/05/2019 - 20:50
      +4

      huawei is not a private company, but a government funded agency, a spy agency to be precise.

  • wallet72 on 20/05/2019 - 11:07
    +1

    so all jokes/sadness aside, what's the feel about getting a Huawei phone now?

    • waterbottled on 20/05/2019 - 11:18
      +14

      I believe they'll unban huawei after a little while and negotiations with China. Banning Huawei isn't good for Google either because they're losing business of the 2nd largest market share holder of smartphone manufacturers. It's just a pissing contest here.

      • dcep on 20/05/2019 - 11:41
        +1

        I believe these are just the fronts.
        The real objective behind is to eliminate Huawei for security influence.

        And it's not up to Trump or Google to decide.
        They are just puppets.

        • ATangk on 20/05/2019 - 13:25
          +18

          China uses Huawei to spy on people, America uses everyone else to spy on people. Same shit different vendor.

          • dcep on 20/05/2019 - 13:32

            @ATangk: I know.

            Just pointing out the real objective here is not about Trump's trade war.

    • payless69 on 20/05/2019 - 13:58

      even as a paperweight it is a useful camera. Keep a cheap Nokia to make calls…

  • sauce2k on 20/05/2019 - 11:17
    +1

    I have emailed Huawei, this is bs because I bought the phone and I use a lot of Google services.

    Anyone reckon we could get a refund or something similar?

    • Starlight8 on 20/05/2019 - 12:17
      +1

      agreed

    • JaxSantiago on 20/05/2019 - 12:29
      +1

      Same concern (Just got a P30 recently)

    • payless69 on 20/05/2019 - 14:03

      Expect the managing director to personally apologize! (the chick is in Jail in Canada)

    • ESEMCE on 20/05/2019 - 14:53
      +2

      The premise stated in the OP is incorrect.
      It will not affect Android updates as Google does not control these, Huawei already does (as do all OEMs) and Android is Open Source anyway.
      It will only affect Google Play Services and will not affect existing devices. It explicitly states this in the article in quotations.

      and finally none of this is official (yet), it's all rumour at this stage.

  • ChadHominem on 20/05/2019 - 12:07
    +5

    Why is everyone hating on Trump and not Google? This is just one of many recent situations where Google has furthered their competitive interests under the guise of complying with the government or public demand. I don't believe that the only choice in this situation was for Google to revoke Huawei's Android licence and screw over Huawei globally

    • wallet72 on 20/05/2019 - 12:25
      +10

      It sure was. The US government restriction is 100% behind this.

      • payless69 on 20/05/2019 - 14:00

        Julian A going to measure with Donald. One is better hung, the other more round…

    • sauce2k on 20/05/2019 - 12:29
      +7

      I don't think stopping providing services to Huawei is in Google's best interest…

      • particle on 21/05/2019 - 00:13

        That's true - also similarly it isn't in Intel, Qualcomm and Broadcom's best interests either, now that they have stopped supplying to Huawei as well.

      • vid_ghost on 22/05/2019 - 16:22

        No its because trump cheats on his wifes cheats on his taxes and dodged the draft for vietnam. He's been bankrupted multiple times and is a blatant pathological liar not to mention his past and present racist bigoted behavior and narcissistic tendencies about him being the best at everything or lies about no other president has done as much or is as great. ext ext.. He makes it easy to hate on him and the news doesnt even need to dig up any dirt.. He covers himself in it every time he tweets.

        The midterms were a wakeup call for the GOP and 2020 will be the same for trump… a sock puppet could beat him in 2020 if the people vote the SAME as they did in 2018 midterms.

    • wyrmy on 20/05/2019 - 17:59

      Competitive interested? Its in Googles best interest to have MORE phones out there running Android.
      What makes you think Google prefer to be doing this?

    • freakatronic on 21/05/2019 - 10:57
      +2

      Why is everyone hating on Trump and not Google?

      Because orange man bad

  • 4kbargain on 20/05/2019 - 12:36
    +1

    Does this mean we can return our Huwaei phone to Optus and get another phone?

    • dcep on 20/05/2019 - 12:43
      +2

      No chance

    • sauce2k on 20/05/2019 - 12:53

      Not to that extend but I know I will be after some sort of compensation from Huawei..

      • Hybroid on 20/05/2019 - 13:31

        Why exactly? You purchased a device that still works. There's no stipulation or requirement for them to continue providing updates.

        • brendanm on 20/05/2019 - 13:39

          No google play services and no security updates could come under "major fault" as people buy these phones expecting these things, and they had it when purchased.

          • Hybroid on 20/05/2019 - 14:17
            +2

            @brendanm: Google Play services will continue as per normal. It's only OS updates and security patches that will no longer be received. As much of an inconvenience as it is, these aren't guarenteed to you when you purchased the device. Expectation or not.

            • sauce2k on 20/05/2019 - 14:28
              -1

              @Hybroid: I don't think u get it..

              Let's just say that Purely from an expectation point of view, do you not expect your device to receive os updates and security patches lol? Unless u using old Nokia..

              • Hybroid on 20/05/2019 - 14:45
                +1

                @sauce2k: That's the problem though… expectation isn't contractual. They're not obliged to offer you anything for this as long as device still works which it does.

                Don't get me wrong, really hope they do, but they absolutely don't have to compensate for anything just because you expect updates.

                • greatlamp on 20/05/2019 - 20:59

                  @Hybroid: There is a chapter in the Australian Consumer Law about manufacturers being obligated to ensure the availability of spare parts.

                  It could be argued that software support is equally important, but it isn't written in as far as I know.

        • wallet72 on 20/05/2019 - 13:41

          cancelling updates that are a selling point is a compelling event and should trigger a refund.

          • ESEMCE on 20/05/2019 - 14:56

            @wallet72: Read the article then decide if there's actually anything to worry about with your existing device.
            I'll give you a hint; there isn't anything to worry about unless you own shares in Huawei (which seems highly unlikley)

          • particle on 21/05/2019 - 00:27

            @wallet72: Huawei should still be able to roll out updates - the updates will just be delayed, since Huawei will only get open source builds when they're publicly released, instead of getting early partner builds.

            Huawei isn't cut off from Android completely. It can continue to use a version of Android, called AOSP (Android Open Source Project) when Google releases that build publicly, but that will put Huawei months behind the competition.

            • ESEMCE on 21/05/2019 - 09:40

              @particle: Meh, they're already delayed…
              I'm lucky to get a quarterly security update… and Optus delay the update by a further 4 weeks at least after Huawei release one.
              Still waiting on the Android 9 upgrade for my Mate 9 that Optus initially promised in March but only approved at the start of May.

  • TomGum on 20/05/2019 - 13:48
    +2

    Ebay and Gumtree to be saturated with stock very soon.

    • Blitzfx on 20/05/2019 - 14:49
      +9

      You underestimate people's willingness to sacrifice privacy for cheap / free shit
      Just look at facebook.

      • mohan76 on 21/05/2019 - 08:59
        +7

        what privacy ? our privacy safe with Chinese, CIA would share it with all the big Comp

  • payless69 on 20/05/2019 - 13:53
    +3

    With Huawei being on a global scale much larger than Apple, even sells more phones than Samsung I can see a rather large trade war ahead. Trump is going to need a few new fingernails…

    • wallet72 on 20/05/2019 - 14:03
      +2

      Good point. Huawei and China could probably kill most competitors with a trade war if they set their mind to it.

      • askme69 on 20/05/2019 - 14:10
        +4

        China imports 160b from the USA, The USA imports $700b from China. China has a lot to lose.

        • wallet72 on 20/05/2019 - 14:12
          +6

          they both have a lot to lose, but looking beyond the figures the Us could not last very long if China started banning some exports. Hell, the US couldn't survive China driving the prices up too far. China would suffer as well, but they could weather it longer.

        • payless69 on 20/05/2019 - 14:14
          +4

          in the short run YES! But China will last longer without Prozac than the US.

        • particle on 20/05/2019 - 17:59
          +3

          Many of China’s largest tech companies have flourished over the last decade within the country in the absence of foreign competition. China has for years blocked some of America’s largest internet giants — on claims that those U.S. companies pose national security risks.

          Copied from askme69's article above. If China has been blocking US tech to prevent competition, then the US might be doing the same as a bargaining chip, perhaps for both countries to either unblock together (and allow each to spy on each other), or remain blocked together.

        • witsa on 20/05/2019 - 20:15
          +3

          Not to mention they don't have a democracy nor have to worry about pesky voters.

          The Chinese simply need to launch a few tariffs targeted specially to hurt some swing States.

      • [Deactivated] on 20/05/2019 - 14:32

        Good point…made after the fact :p

    • Albert10 on 20/05/2019 - 21:06

      huawei is done, period. unless china gives in to make a deal with trump. no tech company can survive without us technologies.

    • particle on 21/05/2019 - 00:41
      +2

      Huawei don't sell more phones than Samsung yet, though if they continue growing at their current rate they probably will in the near future.

      Rank Vendor 2Q18 Smartphone Shipments (millions)
      1 Samsung 71.5
      2 Huawei 54.2
      3 Apple 41.3
      • payless69 on 22/05/2019 - 09:13

        who knows how many sub brands Huawei is making. Assembly lines at Foxcon make about half of the world's junk electronics. Anybody knows who is behind Oppo? They are at the forefront of 5G in Europe with Apple about 2 years behind…

  • wallet72 on 20/05/2019 - 14:56
    +1

    fist sign of the backdown beginning?

    https://www.engadget.com/2019/05/18/us-may-soften-ban-on-hua…

    • ESEMCE on 20/05/2019 - 14:58
      +3

      No surprises here… ZTE broke far harsher rules and were banned for about a week!

      • Name on 20/05/2019 - 18:35
        +16

        What I find crazy is that the US and other governments are concerned about China's influence over the Huawei company (ordering them to do things). Yet with a pen stroke from Trump a few major companies fall into line and plenty of other smaller ones too effectively killing Huawei.

        • DBW on 23/05/2019 - 03:50
          +1

          Exactly. No matter it's the US or China, all they ever needed was just a reason. Trump declared 'National Emergency' and then the stage is ready. It seems to me that Trump is abusing the term 'National Security'. It's just a wild card.

  • bigbadboogieman on 20/05/2019 - 15:05
    +1

    ??????? so will existing phones like a Mate 20 Pro purchased a few months back that already has Google services still work as normal?

    Holders of current Huawei smartphones with Google apps, however, will continue to be able to use and download app updates provided by Google, a Google spokesperson said, confirming earlier reporting by Reuters.

    “We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications,” the Google spokesperson said.

    “For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices,” the spokesperson said, without giving further details.

    • pformag on 20/05/2019 - 16:16

      Yes, you just won't get future updates.

      • [Deactivated] on 20/05/2019 - 18:43

        So if there is a back door bug in android that can be fixed, Google won't release that update to Huawei?

        What about app updates? Online banking and such?

        Update said that existing phones are not impacted. They still have Google play services and security updates.

        This is only future unreleased phones.

        • FrugalDealHunter on 21/05/2019 - 08:30

          Play & Google apps (Gmail/youtube/etc…) already on your phone will continue to work

          • [Deactivated] on 21/05/2019 - 09:35

            @FrugalDealHunter: I wonder though if bank apps would still work. I'm sure they will review the risk of allowing these apps to work in these phones.

            • FrugalDealHunter on 21/05/2019 - 10:18

              @[Deactivated]: Initially yes but if Huawei continue to be banned I think they'll disappear in the ether and updates will stop.

  • hopper on 20/05/2019 - 15:37
    +11

    All i see is Samsung Dancing in SK

    • ntt on 20/05/2019 - 16:33
      +1

      it's laughing now

  • wyrmy on 20/05/2019 - 17:56

    A lot of users don't even know what the implication of security and OS updates are. Existing phones still have access to google play services.

    The existing stock will just be sold as-is without major price reductions and "I didn't know about the block" wont be a valid reason for a refund after the purchase.
    Don't get your hopes up for fire sales or anything like that.

  • pformag on 20/05/2019 - 18:18
    +1

    More than just google BTW.

    https://www.androidauthority.com/intel-qualcomm-huawei-98801…

    Intel, Qualcomm, Broadcom, and Xilinx have reportedly moved to stop supplying Huawei.

    • SDF05 on 20/05/2019 - 18:21

      This is gonna affect Huawei users a lot, that sucks honestly. And it's a big blow to Google and other investers of Huawei as well, i don't think Google wanted to do this right now but they probably had no choice.

      • pformag on 20/05/2019 - 18:22

        the mobile side is small compared to the hardware server side. Huawei's mobile network equipment (BTS stations, Core network)

  • pformag on 20/05/2019 - 18:21
    +20

    and in fairness to the US, the Chinese government has long ago banned Google Services/Software, Youtube, Facebook/Whatsapp, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Wikipedia, Reddit, etc in the name of National Security.

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