Google has dealt Chinese phone company Huawei a massive blow by blocking it from using apps and services.
Huawei is reliant on Google’s Android operating system for its phones and tablets.
But according to reports, Google has cut off Huawei’s licence which means it can no longer use apps like Gmail or Google Maps on its phones. It will also not have access to security updates and patches.
Existing customers will be able to update their phones and apps, but will not be able to update to a newer version of the Android operating system if one becomes available.
Google’s parent company Alphabet said it had taken steps to ‘comply with the recent US government actions’.
This could be a reference to US president Donald Trump’s executive order apparently aimed at banning Huawei’s equipment from US networks and said it was subjecting the Chinese company to strict export controls.
The order – which empowers the US government to ban the technology and services of ‘foreign adversaries’ deemed to pose ‘unacceptable risks’ to national security – did not name specific countries or companies.
It’s believed that other American tech companies, like chip makers Quakcomm and Intel are also looking at cutting ties with Huawei.
Over the last few years, Huawei has become the world’s second largest phone manufacturer after Samsung.
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