Huawei’s temporary general license has expired, possibly jeopardizing Google apps on older models

Last year, the Trump administration placed Huawei and its subsidiaries on the U.S. Commerce Department’s “Entity List,” which blocked Google from licensing Google Mobile Services for new Huawei device models made available after May 16, 2019. The U.S. government granted Huawei a temporary general license (TGL) which it then renewed several times over the last year. This TGL allowed Google to continue collaborating with Huawei on providing security updates and updates to Google apps, according to a statement published by the company in February. However, Huawei’s temporary general license has expired as of last night. It isn’t immediately clear what this means for software updates on existing Huawei mobile devices with Google apps, but this could spell trouble for the company.

According to The Washington Post, the Commerce Department could still renew the temporary general license, but neither the agency nor Huawei responded to a request for comment from the publication. The TGL was intended to give rural network providers in the U.S. time to replace any Huawei-made equipment they have, but the U.S. Congress has apparently failed to allocate money to aid rural providers in replacing their equipment, according to The Washington Post. As for the effect of the license expiration on Huawei smartphones, Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda told the publication that the TGL was what had allowed Google to provide security updates and updates to Google apps and services.

“We have continued to work with Huawei, in compliance with government regulations, to provide security updates and updates to Google’s apps and services on existing devices, and we will continue to do so as long as it is permitted. To be clear: US law currently allows Google to only work with Huawei on device models available to the public on or before May 16, 2019.” – Tristan Ostrowski, Android & Play Legal Director, February 22, 2020

What isn’t clear, though, is whether or not this means that Huawei has to remove Google apps from future software updates pushed to its older devices. Older Huawei device models made available before May 16, 2019, are still running Android software certified by Google, but Google has to certify each and every new software update that Huawei rolls out in order to ensure compliance with the requirements Google lays out to distribute Google Mobile Services. If Google can no longer legally collaborate with Huawei—even if only to certify device models made available before May 16, 2019—then that means that Google can no longer allow Huawei to distribute GMS in future software updates, even for previously-certified smartphones.

The implications on security updates will likely be less drastic if the TGL isn’t renewed. Google gives OEMs a month to merge security patches before the next monthly Android Security Bulletin is made public. Since the TGL has expired, Huawei may be cut off from getting a heads up on security patches, but they’ll still be able to merge any security patches after the bulletin goes public. That’s because any Android framework and Linux kernel patches are open source, so Huawei doesn’t have to rely on Google to merge them.

With Huawei now unable to launch new Android smartphones with Google apps before May 2021 and them possibly being unable to update existing phones with Google apps, it’s more important than ever for the company to build up its alternative app and development ecosystem.

The post Huawei’s temporary general license has expired, possibly jeopardizing Google apps on older models appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2PVLKsE
via IFTTT