Home > Communication > 5G > Huawei, PR Spin Fails To Deliver Certainty About Android Updates, Retailers In The Dark

Huawei, PR Spin Fails To Deliver Certainty About Android Updates, Retailers In The Dark

The consumer PR division of Chinese multinational telecommunications company Huawei have taken to not returning calls, as we seek answers to several questions regarding the future for smartphone products that Huawei has already sold in Australia, and whether Huawei devices will get future Google Android updates including key security patches.

Candice Lester quit her job at Optus for a role at Huawei heading consumer PR, just after the company was allegedly found to be facing a criminal investigation in the US over allegations it stole trade secrets, then a few weeks into her appointment Huawei was told that their smartphones were banned in the USA, compounding this Google on May 23rd 2019 confirmed that they would not be supplying Android updates to the Android OS devices that Huawei sold.

24 hours later it emerged that Huawei had been being given a 90-day grace period by Google.

This was a hammer blow for the spin doctors at Huewei’s consumer division who now appear to struggle to manage the fall out.

Lester’s appointment coincided with a major push by the Chinese Company to buy favourable PR coverage with free trips to overseas destinations for journalists and in some cases their wives.

Now their expensive strategy has gone pear shaped and Huawei is facing a massive slump in sales with one insider telling ChannelNews that sales have now slumped more than 60%. Last week another employee confided that the move the US Administration had had a “devastating effect” on the consumer division and that sales slumped over 40% in the first week of the ban.

Now retailers who were selling Huawei devices are struggling to answer questions from customers, many who are demanding their money back.

Huawei’s UK consumer group has moved to address these concerns with a new website called ‘Huawei Answers’, which is set up in an FAQ style, designed to address consumer concerns about its phones.

The Australian operation has no such site and appears to be relying on the UK site.

The main concern most prospective Huawei smartphone punters will have been whether or not their devices will be updated to the latest version of Android when it becomes available.

ChannelNews has found that most retailers and carriers who are still selling Huawei devices are uncertain and are concerned that their answers could mislead consumers.

Several major retailers have asked Huawei to take stock back and are stopping the sale of Huawei handsets.

Huawei executives are still claiming that they are confident that their most popular devices, including the P30 series, will be able to access Android Q.

The use of hedging language such as ‘we continue to work closely’ and ‘we are confident that’ communicates clearly that Huawei management don’t have a clue as to their future.

Huawei Facts Twitter account claims that Huawei has already shifted 100 million smartphone units this year.

The Chinese Company also claims that they managed to sell over 200 million in the whole 2018.

“Our most popular current devices, including the P30 series, will be able to access Android Q,” announces Huawei Answers in its preamble, before tackling other ‘common points of confusion’ as Huawei calls them.

RUMOUR #1 – Huawei smartphones and tablets will no longer get software or security updates.

Ongoing security and software updates will continue to be provided to keep all Huawei smartphones and tablets secure and up-to-date.

RUMOUR #2 – Android will be automatically uninstalled from Huawei smartphones and tablets.

Android will not be automatically uninstalled from Huawei smartphones and tablets. We continue to work closely with our partners to ensure our consumers can always enjoy the best possible experience.

RUMOUR #3 – Huawei users will not be able to download or use apps like WhatsApp, Facebook or Instagram.

For all Huawei smartphones and tablets, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram apps can be downloaded and used as normal.

RUMOUR #4 – Windows will no longer work on Huawei PCs.

We can confirm that Huawei devices with Microsoft software will be upgraded and supported

RUMOUR #5 – If you reset your Huawei smartphone or tablet, you will lose access permanently to Android Services and Google Apps.

If you reset your Huawei smartphone or tablet to factory settings, Android Services and Google Apps can still be downloaded and used as normal.

RUMOUR #6 – The current situation impacts the warranty on Huawei smartphones and tablets.

Nothing has changed. Huawei provides after-sales service as before, in accordance with the existing warranty policy.

RUMOUR #7 – Huawei smartphones & tablets will offer reduced functionality.

All Huawei smartphones & tablets will continue to function as they currently do.

RUMOUR #8 – Huawei will no longer sell smartphones.

Huawei will continue to sell smartphones. Furthermore, we will continue to invest in research and development to deliver leading innovation and the best possible smartphone experience.

RUMOUR #9 – The P30 & the P30 Pro won’t get access to Android

Huawei claim that they have been working with third parties for many months to ensure devices will be able to receive Android Q updates.

Technical preparations and testing has already begun for over 17 devices. In fact, our Mate 20 Pro has already been given approval to receive Android Q as and when it is released by Google.

Huawei has submitted a list of the products they have submitted to Google in an attempt to an upgrade to Android Q before the ban takes effect.

P30 Pro

P30

Mate 20

Mate 20 Pro

PORSCHE DESIGN Mate 20 RS

P30 lite

P smart 2019

P smart+ 2019

P smart Z

Mate 20 X

Mate 20 X (5G)

P20 Pro

P20

Mate 10 Pro

PORSCHE DESIGN Mate 10

Mate 10

Mate 20 Lite

The only problem with the situation is that Huawei is still asking people to take its word for this stuff, this is a Company that openly tried to mislead journalists at their own press event in Sydney with the quality of the images they claimed their new P30 camera delivered.



You may also like
Intel & AMD Processors Banned In China
Bunnings Is Australia’s Most Trusted Brand, Woolworths Drops After Woke Campaign
Honor launch, MWC 2024
Honor Magic 6 Pro Takes On High End Android Rivals
Samsung & Huawei Battle To Launch World’s First Triple Foldable Phone
Huawei’s Offices in France Searched By Financial Prosecutors