Facebook rips apps off new Huawei smartphones
Facebook has suspended pre-installation of its apps on new Huawei phones, dealing the latest blow against the beleaguered Chinese telecoms giant.
The apps affected by the suspension will include Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp.
Customers who already have Huawei phones will still be able to access and update their apps.
But the company’s new phones will no longer come with the apps pre-installed.
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New phone owners will still be able to download and update the apps through the Play Store.
Smartphone vendors often pre-install popular apps on their smartphones to make them more attractive to customers.
Twitter and Booking.com also come pre-installed on Huawei phones in many markets.
Twitter and Booking.com declined to comment on whether they would be making similar moves.
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The move by Facebook is a blow to Huawei’s sales outlook.
Huawei’s smartphone business became its biggest revenue generator last year, stimulated by strong growth in Europe in Asia.
A Facebook spokesperson said: “We are reviewing the Commerce Department’s final rule and the more recently issued temporary general license and taking steps to ensure compliance.”
Huawei declined to comment on the story.
Google recently announced that it would no longer provide Android software for Huawei phones after a 90-day reprieve granted by the US government expires in August.
But the search giant has no plans to block access to its apps on Huawei phones.
The Trump administration banned US companies from supplying technology to Huawei in May as part of a long-running dispute with the company.
The United States alleges that Huawei is too close to the Chinese government and its telecoms products could be used for espionage.
Huawei denies the allegations.