Huawei announces new smart phones will be shipped without Google apps and services

Huawei has just announced its latest Mate 30 Pro handset but it cannot be shipped with Google apps and services preinstalled as Huawei is blacklisted by the US government so that US companies cannot do business with the company.

The US blacklist

A recent article describes the Entity List: "The US government added Huawei Technologies to a trade blacklist earlier this month, restricting the Chinese telecommunications equipment maker’s ability to buy hardware, software and services from American hi-tech suppliers. That US blacklist, officially called the Entity List, identifies organisations and individuals believed to be involved, or pose a significant risk of becoming involved, in activities contrary to America’s national security or foreign policy interests"

There are 143 Chinese entities on the list. However, this is far behind Russia that has 317 entities listed.

Negative effects of the US Entity List

A recent BBC article notes: "The Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro both lack YouTube, Google Maps and Gmail among other software. They also do not feature Google's Play Store, which is the normal way users outside China install third-party software on to Android 10 phones."

Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's consumer products division revealed at a press event in Germany this morning that Huawei has been forced to drop Google's Mobile Services (GMS) license for the all the Mate 30 series of devices. Yu explained: “We cannot use the Google Mobile Services core, we can use the Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) core. Today that’s because of a US ban that these phones cannot preinstall the GMS core, it has forced us to use the HMS Core running the Huawei app gallery on the Mate 30 series phones.”

Huawei creating its own alternatives to Play Store apps

The Google Play Store is an essential part of Google Mobile Services licences. Outside of China it is the main way that customers obtain access to apps. It is rather difficult to get around this requirement so Huawei is attempting to build alternatives to the Google Play Store as well as its associated services. This will take some time and money. Huawei is spending $1 billion to produce its own Huawei Mobile Services. There are already 45,000 apps associated with Huawei Mobile Services but many thousands more need to be made available in Huawei's App Gallery. This is a huge task but the company has no other alternative.

Way around the restrictions are problematic

There are some faint hopes that the US ban could be reversed. Alternatively perhaps there are ways that Huawei can work around the restrictions. There are reports that Huawei could offer its own interface to allow access to some Google apps but it is not clear how many will be available or even how Huawei hopes to achieve this.

Meizu a Chinese manufacturer of smartphones, had apps that included a "Google Installer" app that could sideload key Google services and also the Play Store onto its handsets. However, Google has been cracking down on this and has been even experimenting with blocking non-certified devices from accessing its apps and services.

In markets such as Europe and others outside of China remains to be seen if customers will continue to purchase Huawei phones even though they lack key Google apps and services. However, the US ban will also serve to motivate Huawei and other Chines and Russian companies to replace US technology with their own. The US ban will also deprive many US companies of profitable markets in China.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Paying at the till by phone becoming common

Cash has long been losing out to credit cards but now both may be losing out in the battle for the most popular way of making payments to the smart phone.


There are many ways that you can now make payments with your phone. Some apps allow you to make payments for goods while others are used for other purposes. For example Venmo is popular in the United States among college students for sending money. It can send money to mobile numbers or email addresses.

Many people are now using digital wallets rather than having a physical wallet bulging with documents, credit cards and perhaps even cash. A digital wallet is described by Wikipedia:
A digital wallet refers to an electronic device that allows an individual to make electronic transactions. This can include purchasing items on-line with a computer or using a smartphone to purchase something at a store. An individual's bank account can also be linked to the digital wallet. They might also have their driver’s license, health card, loyalty card(s) and other ID documents stored on the phone.

Many of the digital wallet features involve software from large tech companies such as Google. Google wallet is a money transfer app. It allows you to send money from your phone to other person's emails or phone numbers. Recipients are notified by email and then go through steps to identify themselves to access the funds. Google Android Pay now in Canada since May enables users to pay by using their phone at participating merchants.

Square Inc. is also a company that has apps that allow merchants to accept credit card payments but has software that does much else for companies as well. Square Register is point of sale software that the company hopes will replace both traditional credit card terminals and cash registers. The software not only simplifies payment processing but at the same time can help inventory management. It will also be able to integrate with other third-party platforms. More information with a video included is available at this website.

As Wikipedia describes Square Register: "Square Register allows individuals and merchants in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom, to accept offline debit and credit cards on their iOS or Android smartphone or tablet computer."
Samsung Pay is available only on Android devices. It allows users to load their credit, debit, and gift cards to their platform. Having done so payment to stores may be made using the user's phone. Samsung Pay allows the phone to in effect mimic a physical card. The phone can be used to make payments to virtually any merchant who will accept the cards.

Competing with Google and Samsung is Apple Pay. It is an app that works on an iPhone. Apple may be a possible winner in the mobile phone payment competition. Apple Pay is already accepted by 50 percent of retailers in the United States. An Apple Pay website claims: " Unlike paying with a physical card, using Apple Pay in stores happens in seconds with your iPhone and Apple Watch. Just hold your iPhone near the reader with your finger on Touch ID or double-click the side button on your Apple Watch, then hold it near the reader." More and more you will see people reach for their phones at the checkout rather than for their wallet to take out a credit card or pay by cash.
More about apple pay, goggle pay, digital wallets

Nokia cuts 20 per cent of work force as market share slumps

The global cellphone giant is losing market share to rivals Apple and Samsung and is burning through its cash reserves as well. The company announced that it would lose more than originally expected in its second quarter.

Nokia was once the dominant mobile phone producer but as with other companies such as the Canada based RIM it is losing market share to competitors. The company hopes that a new line of smartphones Lumia will turn its sagging fortunes around. However the software from Microsoft may not compete with its rivals.

A research analyst said:"The job cuts and profit warning underline the seriousness of the challenges Nokia is facing, particularly in light of the eye-watering competition from Apple and Samsung," Nokia based in Finland saw shares drop 10.5 per cent. As well as the only plant in Finland a plant in Canada will also be closed. For more see this article.