The U.S. export curbs threatened Huawei’s
smartphone sales by disrupting access to the
Android operating system supplied by Alphabet
Inc.’s Google unit. Huawei can use the basic
system, which Google provides for free, but lost
access to maps and other services that require
the U.S. company’s support.
Ren, the company founder, said earlier
smartphones sales plunged 40 percent following
the ban. Liang said sales had recovered to 80
percent of their previous level.
Liang said Huawei can develop its own
operating system if necessary, based on its
Hongmen system created for internet-linked
cars, factory equipment and other devices.
“Using Android is always our preference,
” he said. “But if the United States doesn’t
let us use it, we have the capability to
develop our own OS and ecosystem.”
Liang said the U.S. curbs had no effect on
Huawei’s sales of next generation, or 5G,
telecoms technology.
Huawei is, along with Sweden’s LM Ericsson and
Nokia Corp. of Finland, a top developer of 5G
networks that are meant to expand support to
internet-linked cars, factories and other devices.
Huawei has signed 11 commercial contracts
with foreign carriers since the May ban was
imposed and has shipped a total of 150,000 base
stations, according to Liang.