Facebook Inc has suspended its arrangement with Huawei which allowed it to pe-install its apps on their phones. With the previous arrangement, Huawei phones would have shipped with a pre-installed Facebook app to allow users easy set-up because (let’s face it), most people do use Facebook. Now, the firm is pulling its app from any Huawei device that has not been shipped from its factories yet.
This move arguably doesn’t mean much for Huawei users. Yes, they will no longer get Facebook and WhatsApp pre-installed, but current Play Store certified devices will be able to download them from the Play Store.
Facebook’ action is yet another of the fallout from Huawei’s US ban which has resulted in the firm losing access to Google’s Android in the meantime. The most interesting ramifications are forward-looking. Haiwei is reportedly working on a new ArkOS/Hongmeng OS, and plans to work with develops directly to build apps for its devices. As Huawei struggles to put together an app store for its upcoming OS, one wonders how a platform with no native access to Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram can survive. Actually, we don’t have to wonder.
Source: Reuters