Facebook Inc is no longer permitting pre-installation of its applications on Huawei mobile phones, the recent blow for the Chinese tech giant as it struggles to keep its company afloat in the face of a U .S. ban on its purchase of American parts and software program. Smartphone vendors often enter business plans to pre-install popular applications such as Facebook. Apps including Twitter and Booking .com also come pre-installed on Huawei phones in lots of marketplaces. Twitter Inc declined to comment and Booking Holdings did not respond to a demand.
The shift by Facebook dampens the sales outlook for Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, whose smartphone business became its largest revenue generator a year ago, powered by strong progress in Europe and Asia.
Alphabet Inc’s Google declared previously that it would no longer provide Android application for Huawei phones after a 90-day reprieve granted by the U .S. govt expires in August. But Google’s Play store and all Google applications will still be available for present models of Huawei phones including those which have not yet shipped or even been built. The Facebook ban, by contrast, applies to any Huawei phone that has not yet left the factory, according to a person experienced with the issue. Facebook declined to discuss when the suspension took place.
In May, Washington stopped U .S. organizations from providing technology to Huawei, part of a long-running campaign against the organization. The United States alleges that Huawei is too close to the Chinese govt and that its telecom coverage gear and other products could be a conduit for espionage, which Huawei denies. Buyers of present Huawei phone models that do not have Facebook pre-installed would still be able to download it from the Google Play store. Future versions of Huawei phones, however, will not have access to the Google Play store and its applications unless the U .S. govt changes course.
Huawei has said it was well prepared for the U .S. action and vowed to work around any disruptions. But a few clients at shops in Europe and Asia have said to Reuters that they are reluctant to buy Huawei phones in the face of uncertainties, and analysts anticipate a dramatic drop in Huawei smartphone sales.