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Huawei is a massive company with a large lineup of affordable Android phones. Why can't they just fork Android just like Amazon and Microsoft? I guess they wou

Huawei is a massive company with a large lineup of affordable Android phones. Why can't they just fork Android just like Amazon and Microsoft? I guess they would have to come up with alternative to google play marketplace, gmaps, gmail, etc. but it's not really a big deal with the resources they have. Not to mention that the open source equivalent of these apps are serviceable.

mcrae 7y ago
Don't think it is that simple for a couple of reasons: 1) Without GMS, developers will need to fork their apps and reimplement everything they use Play services for today. That's non-trvial and I suspect a substantial number of developers would not be willing to do this. 2) Even if Huawei developed their own app store, IAP framework, etc, as I understand it the order in the US prevents Huawei from entering into any new business with US companies without a license. So, does that mean that FB, Twitter, et all would be prohibited from listing their apps? I believe so.
- wpdev_63 7y ago
  >1) Without GMS, developers will need to fork their apps and reimplement everything they use Play services for today. That's non-trvial and I suspect a substantial number of developers would not be willing to do this. True but Hawuei has the resources to actually make great open source alternatives that developers can take advantage of. >2) Even if Huawei developed their own app store, IAP framework, etc, as I understand it the order in the US prevents Huawei from entering into any new business with US companies without a license. So, does that mean that FB, Twitter, et all would be prohibited from listing their apps? I believe so. I guess but that's not their business. They will have to come up with a alternative to Arm due to licensing. A RISC-V chipset developed by a major company is an interesting prospect.
  - mcrae 7y ago
    > I guess but that's not their business. I mean my point is that it is a total show stopper for their business if they cannot have US apps on their store! Good luck selling a £800 Android phone in the UK with no Instagram! Or a $200 one in India with no WhatsApp.
    - wpdev_63 7y ago
      True - it definitely will be a big hit but the chinese are used to sideloading their apps and in the long run, this will mostly hurt American companies as it will teach its users how to bypass these restrictions and even come up with better alternatives.
121789 7y ago
It's a huge deal because consumers will have a host of other Android alternatives in competitors where they won't have to deal with "serviceable" open source alternatives. Additionally, Huawei has has done so well because the OS and consumer experience is generally the same across Android, so consumers choose based on hardware. Now Huawei will have to compete not only in hardware (their main advantage), but also in software.
muyuu 7y ago
Both Amazon and Microsoft have essentially failed in the mainstream mobile market. I can see why they don't want to lose money.

mcrae 7y ago

Don't think it is that simple for a couple of reasons: 1) Without GMS, developers will need to fork their apps and reimplement everything they use Play services for today. That's non-trvial and I suspect a substantial number of developers would not be willing to do this. 2) Even if Huawei developed their own app store, IAP framework, etc, as I understand it the order in the US prevents Huawei from entering into any new business with US companies without a license. So, does that mean that FB, Twitter, et all would be prohibited from listing their apps? I believe so.

wpdev_63 7y ago
>1) Without GMS, developers will need to fork their apps and reimplement everything they use Play services for today. That's non-trvial and I suspect a substantial number of developers would not be willing to do this. True but Hawuei has the resources to actually make great open source alternatives that developers can take advantage of. >2) Even if Huawei developed their own app store, IAP framework, etc, as I understand it the order in the US prevents Huawei from entering into any new business with US companies without a license. So, does that mean that FB, Twitter, et all would be prohibited from listing their apps? I believe so. I guess but that's not their business. They will have to come up with a alternative to Arm due to licensing. A RISC-V chipset developed by a major company is an interesting prospect.
- mcrae 7y ago
  > I guess but that's not their business. I mean my point is that it is a total show stopper for their business if they cannot have US apps on their store! Good luck selling a £800 Android phone in the UK with no Instagram! Or a $200 one in India with no WhatsApp.
  - wpdev_63 7y ago
    True - it definitely will be a big hit but the chinese are used to sideloading their apps and in the long run, this will mostly hurt American companies as it will teach its users how to bypass these restrictions and even come up with better alternatives.

121789 7y ago

It's a huge deal because consumers will have a host of other Android alternatives in competitors where they won't have to deal with "serviceable" open source alternatives. Additionally, Huawei has has done so well because the OS and consumer experience is generally the same across Android, so consumers choose based on hardware. Now Huawei will have to compete not only in hardware (their main advantage), but also in software.

muyuu 7y ago

Both Amazon and Microsoft have essentially failed in the mainstream mobile market. I can see why they don't want to lose money.