Tech giant Google has temporarily reversed its decision to revoke Chinese tech manufacturer Huawei’s Android operating system license, which would have crippled its ability to compete with Samsung in the smartphone market.
Business Insider reports that tech giant Google has temporarily stopped its plan to suspend all Android licenses used by Chinese tech manufacturer Huawei. Google’s initial plans to cut ties with Huawei were made after Washington chose to place Huawei on the “entity list” which means that American companies must obtain a license in order to do business with the Chinese firm. As a result, Google planned to prevent Huawei from licensing its Android mobile operating system and forcing the firm to use a public version of Android obtained through the Android Open Source Project.
But now, the U.S. Department of Commerce has chosen to grant Huawei a license of 90 days so it could help existing customers. Google has now chosen to follow the Department of Commerce in allowing Huawei a 90-day grace period in which the company is likely to attempt to transition over to a new mobile operating system.
A Google spokesperson commented on the situation stating: “Keeping phones up to date and secure is in everyone’s best interests and this temporary license allows us to continue to provide software updates and security patches to existing models for the next 90 days.”
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross stated that the 90 day grace period is to allow U.S. companies to get their businesses in order before they sever ties entirely with Huawei. “The Temporary General License grants operators time to make other arrangements and the Department space to determine the appropriate long term measures for Americans and foreign telecommunications providers that currently rely on Huawei equipment for critical services,” he said. “In short, this license will allow operations to continue for existing Huawei mobile phone users and rural broadband networks.”
Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News covering issues of free speech and online censorship. Follow him on Twitter @LucasNolan or email him at lnolan@breitbart.com
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