Huawei & Android: The latest from O2

[Chris_K]

Hi everyone, 

As most of you will have seen, Huawei has been in the news this week and we’re here to update and reassure our customers who use Huawei or Honor devices. This week the US Commerce Department has granted a temporary license restoring Huawei’s ability to maintain existing networks and provide software updates to existing Huawei handsets until August 2019.

We’re continuing to monitor the situation to understand any and all potential implications for our customers and we’ll update this thread with the latest information.

The situation for existing customers

Huawei has indicated that for existing Huawei and Honor devices which are currently on the market, things will stay the same for now and the phones will continue to operate normally, including access to Google services such as Google Play, Gmail, etc. Huawei has confirmed these devices will continue to receive security updates from Android and will be covered by Huawei’s after-sales service.  Based on the current situation, availability of software updates (including apps and bug fixes) after 19 August 2019 cannot be confirmed and it’s possible the ongoing issue could prevent the upgrade of existing apps from taking place.

The situation for new/future customers

For anyone considering purchasing a Huawei or Honor device, we want to help you understand the current situation as best as we can, from what Google and Huawei have made public so far:

• To date, Huawei has not confirmed the availability of future Android updates for their devices.
• However, the US Government has issued a partial and temporary license (expiring 19 August) which permits Huawei to provide service and support, including software updates and patches to existing Huawei devices that were available to the public on or before 16 May.
• Based on the current situation, availability of software updates (including apps and bug fixes) after 19 August 2019 cannot be confirmed and it’s possible the ongoing issue could prevent the upgrade of existing apps from taking place.

In all cases, we continue to analyse the situation closely. We will be in permanent contact with Google and Huawei, in order to share with our customers any additional relevant information.

We understand many of you have some specific questions, so we’d like to cover these below.

I am an existing Huawei smartphone user, what does this mean for me?

• Your device will continue to function as it does today.
• All the Google services and apps will continue to function and you will be able to download & update applications from the Play Store.
• Huawei will be able to issue Android security updates based on patches provided by Google.
• Based on the current situation, availability of software updates (including bug fixes) after 19 August 2019 cannot be confirmed.

*The information provided is based on Huawei's statements.

Q. I am thinking of purchasing a new Huawei smartphone from the current available range, what does this mean for me? 

• Your device will come with full current Android software, including all the normal Google applications.
• All the Google services and apps will continue to function and you will be able to download & update applications from the Play Store.
• Huawei will be able to issue Android security updates based on patches provided by Google.
• Based on the current situation, availability of software updates (including apps and bug fixes) after 19 August 2019 cannot be confirmed and it’s possible the ongoing issue could prevent the upgrade of existing apps from taking place.

*The information provided is based on Huawei's statements.

Can I return my Huawei/Honor device for a refund or exchange as a result of this issue?

• Yes, if you’re within your 14-day Change of Mind period. If you’re outside of 14 days, you will not be able to return the device for a refund on the basis of the current situation while your device continues to work as it should. We will continue to monitor the situation and advise customers if things change.

What about Honor products?

• Honor is not officially included in the list, but as a Huawei subsidiary and as confirmed by Huawei and Google, it is likely that Honor is impacted in the same way as Huawei.

Will Google Services continue to work on existing Huawei phones?

• Google have publicly stated “We assure you while we are complying with all US gov't requirements, services like Google Play & security from Google Play Protect will keep functioning on your existing Huawei device.”

Will Google apps/services continue receiving updates?

• Google and Huawei have confirmed for now that Google apps will continue being updated through Google Play.  Based on the current situation, availability of software updates (including apps and bug fixes) after 19 August 2019 cannot be confirmed and it’s possible the ongoing issue could prevent the upgrade of existing apps from taking place.

I heard that Huawei have been granted a 90 day license extension, what does this mean?

• The US government has issued a partial and temporary licence (expiring 19 August 2019) which permits Huawei to provide service and support, including software updates and patches to existing Huawei handsets that were available to the public on or before 16 May 2019.  Based on the current situation, availability of software updates (including apps and bug fixes) after 19 August 2019 cannot be confirmed and it’s possible the ongoing issue could prevent the upgrade of existing apps from taking place.

[jcf224]

Yes it would be good for some one from o2 to offer a more customer friendly solution to this issue, rather than leaving everyone with a device that is not looking like it will recoup any value. I am considering Trading Standards, Citizens Advice or advice from a Solicitor if no reasonable recompense is forthcoming. There has to be some protection over this and mobile telephone companies should not be allowed to expect customers to be paying full price for these affected handsets, yet have the power to offer ridiculously low trade in amounts for a recently launched device. No one knew this was about to happen network (supposedly) or customer, and customers bought these handsets with the expectation of keeping up to date with ALL future android releases and app releases not be left behind on older versions. It's bad enough that 4G VoLTE and wifi calling are not yet activated by o2 on such an expensive handset. These are top end phones at top end prices not cheap phones you can get on most budgets or for less than £100. The networks are protecting themselves but not their customers. This is getting worse by the day and a "wait until August 19th" response offers no guarantee what so ever, just another nearly 3 months of uncertainty and paying unnecessarily. Yes the phone works today and NOW, but it is not expected to or not guaranteed too in a couple of months and this is where the problem is. Action is needed now. The networks have been quick enough to action insulting trade in price drops therefore customers should also have the right to return or replace out of the 14 day period in this exceptional case. Most people will only have had these phones a short time anyway as they are so newly released.

[Ste_A]

I don't think I will use O2 again. I purchased the P20 Pro at launch April 2018. O2 still haven't activated WiFi calling or VoLTE, just keep repeating the same old we're looking into it blah blah. All the other networks offer it! Also data access in Manchester city centre is terrible.
Also my phone hasn't received a security patch update since December which is disgusting. Huawei blame Google & O2, Google blame Huawei, O2 blame Huawei etc etc....
O2 should be applying pressure on Huawei and if nothings resolved they should offer their customers a decent trade in allowance for a new contract.
As far as I'm concerned support for Huawei stopped in December well before all the issues with Trump and it looks as thought the situation will be even worse in August.
The security updates should be issued for at least 2 years if not why can't the phones be returned?

[snukems]

Well just read that huawei is rolling out its own operating system to current devices in June I never agreed to this nor want it so what are you at o2 going to do regarding this. This is classed as changing the device as I don't want any other operating system. I wouldn't buy a Windows laptop for them to change it to apple software.

[THEPOSTMAN]

@snukems

Been debunked by Huawei

https://www.androidcentral.com/huaweis-android-replacement-os-will-start-rolling-out-june

[jonsie]

There seems bad news on a daily basis at the moment ::

https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/05/25/huawei-ejected-from-wi-fi-alliance-sd-association-and-other...

"Huawei has had a rough week — it was added to the US Entity List, and soon it will be cut off from most of the manufacturers and companies it relies on to make products. While perhaps not the most devastating blow Huawei has been dealt in recent days, it has now been excluded from the associations responsible for the development Wi-Fi, SD, and some USB standards.

The SD Association, which develops the SD card standard and licenses the logo and trademark to other companies, has removed Huawei from its list of members. The group is located in California, placing it under the jurisdiction of the US ban. It's not clear at this time if this will affect Huawei's ability to add microSD card slots to its future phones, assuming it can even make phones once the ban goes into full effect."

[snukems]

When is someone from O2 going to bother coming back to me? I have sent numerous emails and no response.

[jonsie]

What email address are you using?

---

@snukems wrote:
When is someone from O2 going to bother coming back to me? I have sent numerous emails and no response.

---

[THEPOSTMAN]

Interesting

https://youtu.be/f4lZe4Zmhzw

[TallTrees]

Yes @THEPOSTMAN  I listened to the statement ~ very interesting.

Can Huawei  "survive" long enough to get justice ~ if that is correct.

 Most Governments have infinite life and can "out-live" the complainant.

It can take SO long that you're a gonna.  

(regularly happens to the little people - dead before hearing)

However, I don't think this will end well for the US especially when  

iphone rely upon the Chinese ~ I heard ~ 

[snukems]

I am using complaintreviewservice@o2.com