BEIJING: Chinese smartphone maker Huawei has confirmed that the US sanctions were hurting it badly, especially the absence of Google 's core Android software, Play Store and popular apps like Search and Maps on its devices.According to a Financial Times report quoting a senior Huawei executive, the company hasn't been successful in finding replacements for Google apps which are very popular on Android devices across the globe. "There are so many Android users in Europe and south-east Asia. They're so used to these Google applications on top of Android phones," Joy Tan, Vice President of Public Affairs at Huawei US, was quoted as saying on Sunday. "We can continue to use the Android platform since it is open-source, but we cannot use the services that help apps run on it. "Under the terms of the previous US trade ban, Google was barred from selling Android license to Huawei, meaning its phones could use the base open-source code, but would not have access to the all-important Play Store and Google apps.A temporary licence was issued which allows Google to support and update the Android OS currently running on existing Huawei devices.However, the trade ban has affected the development of future products.

Source: Economic Times October 21, 2019 05:37 UTC