The phone won't stop working, you just won't receive security updates released for android after the date unless a deal is agreed between Google & Huawei (with the Trump administration's blessing of course).
I have a Huwei P20 Pro, and am a little worried that the £100s of pounds I have left to pay on it will essentially go down the drain if a major security incident happens, not to mention the unpleasantness caused by said incident should it happen.
I doubt this will happen, but O2 I think should cut their losses and attempt to get compensation back from Google/Huawei themselves if possible (i'm sure all the networks are already looking into this), and to their customers they should offer early upgrades for any existing device contracts involving the banned phones.
i.e.
Cancel any existing device plans involving the banned phones, writing off the remaining cost, if a customer wishes to do so, and allow an early upgrade.
The customer should still be liable to take up a new device contract if they wish, at the advsertised cost, or choose to remain SIM only and use a device of their own. They could even offer a trade-in value equal to the cost the customer has paid off their device plan to date.
That would seem a fair way to do it in my opinion. Would be good PR for the company, and would also most likely enable them to retain a number of customers who they may well have lost as a result of this (out of their control) mess.
O2 have offered early upgrades to existing customers previously. I myself got a 3 months early uprgade last year from O2, with O2 paying off the remainder of my device contract for me. This was just a gesture from O2, not a response to an issue I had.
Thanks
Steve
