Existing Huawei phones and tablets will still be able to receive software updates from Google for the next three months amid a trade ban that essentially forces Huawei to use an open-source version of Android, or develop its own OS and ecosystem for future devices.
According to a report from Reuters, the United States government has given the beleaguered smartphone giant a temporary license that allows Google to send updates to Huawei devices from today up until August 19.
This window will allow the company to “provide service and support, including software updates or patches, to existing Huawei handsets that were available to the public on or before May 16, 2019.” It also lets Huawei buy goods in the US to maintain its operational networks and equipment.
In a statement sent to The Verge, US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross stated that the license “will allow operations to continue for existing Huawei mobile phone users and rural broadband networks.”
As to how this temporary license will affect Huawei handsets like the P30 and P30 Pro that are lined up to receive Android Q, Google next major software release, remains to be seen, but we wouldn’t get our hopes up just yet. It’s likely that Huawei and Google will prioritize pushing updates to older models while there is still time.
SEE ALSO: FAQ on Huawei losing its Android license amid the U.S.-China trade war
It was reported yesterday that Google has suspended the Android license of the world’s second-largest smartphone maker after the Donald Trump administration added the firm to a blacklist of companies that are barred from trading with their American counterparts.
Other tech companies that have cut off business relations with Huawei include Intel, Qualcomm, Broadcom, and German semiconductor manufacturer Infineon.
China has not said if it plans to retaliate in the ongoing trade war with the US, although the Chinese government is believed to seek legal action against the Trump administration’s ban. A spokeperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that “China encourages Chinese companies to take up legal weapons to defend their own legitimate rights.”
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