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When the issues with the trade ban on Huawei started in May last year, just before the Honor 20 Pro launch, I never thought they would have lasted until 2020. Clearly I underestimated both President Trump and his bullying tactics and China’s stubbornness.
So here we are in 2020, Huawei still has no access to Google services for any phones moving forward, so they are ploughing ahead doing their own thing. At some point in the future, they will likely launch a phone back on their Harmony OS, but for now, they will use Android and replace Google with Huawei Mobile Services, which aims to do everything Google does, but by Huawei.
Recently, Huawei Mobile Services 4.0 beta was announced which updates a bunch of its development kits including the account kit, push kit, wallet kit, analytics kit, drive kit, and game services.
Part of these new updates includes a deal with TomTom, the Dutch mapping giant famed for their sat navs, but turned services provider.
The deal with TomTom means Huawei can now use the Dutch company’s maps, traffic information and navigation software to develop apps for its smartphones.
With TomTom being a dutch company they shouldn’t fall under the trade restrictions imposed on American companies.
Apparently this deal has been in place for a long time but is only just being made publicly available. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was to allow them time tow rok out if TomTom would have any IP falling under the trade ban.
While Huawei continues to be extraordinarily successful in China, time will tell how well they can do without Google in many other countries. Being able to replicate the rich app ecosystem of the Playstore will be critical to this, and Huawei has previously announced financial incentives for app developers to use their App Gallery, so given time I think it is possible they can do it.
The Huawei P40 Pro is due to launch in the next few months, last year the P30 Pro launched March in Paris and was my favourite phone of 2019. The Huawei Mate 30 Pro was announced in Germany but then never launched properly. So it will be interesting to see if Huawei continue with a European launch this year.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
