A new report suggests Huawei is inching closer towards securing a license for Google software on its new devices.
Reuters today reported that Microsoft, one of Huawei’s most important partners for its PC business, has been given the green light by the United States government to export software to the world’s biggest telecommunications equipment manufacturer and second-largest smartphone vendor.
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A Microsoft representative told Reuters via email that the U.S. Department of Commerce has “granted Microsoft’s request for a license to export mass-market software to Huawei.” This, of course, refers to Windows, which is the operating system used by Huawei’s MateBook series of premium laptops.
Microsoft said that the U.S. Department of Commerce has ‘granted Microsoft’s request for a license to export mass-market software to Huawei.’ This, of course, refers to Windows, which is the OS used by Huawei’s MateBook laptops
Earlier this week, the Donald Trump administration said it would allow some American companies to resume sales to Huawei. A Trump spokesperson said that about half of the 300 license requests received had already been processed. The Commerce Department did not say which other requests had been approved.
Does this mean we might see new Huawei phones like the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro getting access to the Play Store and other Google apps soon? Perhaps. Google declined to comment on the development. But this is a good sign, and it could be the first big step in eventually getting Google services on the latest and upcoming Huawei devices.
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Huawei has until February 16, 2020, to continue doing business with American firms after being given another 90-day extension by the Trump administration.
However, this months-long reprieve doesn’t cover new devices that haven’t been certified by Google, and thus Huawei will continue to launch new phones and tablets without Google Play and apps like Gmail and YouTube until Google’s request to resume its business with Huawei is approved, like Microsoft’s.
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