Petr Škuta Huawei is under pressure to think in new directions. While it will soon lose its Android OS license and is looking for a replacement, it is trying to advertise to users directly on their devices.
Users in various countries are reporting that their lock screen is changing. This is nothing new in the world of computers, for example, where Windows 10 changes the lock screen and offers different wallpapers according to the user's preferences.
However, Huawei started using a different strategy. Affected P30 Pro, P20 Pro, P20, P20 Lite and Honor 10 owners had their lock screen selected from a set of "random landscape backgrounds." But instead of picturesque scenery, they suddenly started seeing real estate ads from Booking.com.
This, of course, caused a wave of resentment. Users report this behavior in, for example, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, or South Africa. However, Huawei has yet to officially comment on anything.
Although the wallpapers depict the landscape, they also contain an advertisement for Booking:
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It's getting dark over Huawei
The company is probably looking for new business models. It recently suffered a major loss when the American security authorities placed it on the list of dangerous companies. In response, Google and ARM Hodlings terminated business agreements with Huawei.
Because of this, the Chinese company loses the license for the Android operating system for new models of the Huawei brand and its subsidiary Honor, while the loss of access to ARM processors can cause even more problems and basically stop the production of new smartphones. However, intensive negotiations are underway, at least on the ARM front.
Meanwhile, the Chinese company is looking for a new operating system. For example, the Russian Aurora OS is in play, which is a derivative of Sailfish OS belonging to alternative mobile operating systems. Sailfish belongs to the successors of MeeGo, which was a system working for example in the older Nokia N9.
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The company is also considering its own Hongmeng OS containing an App Gallery instead of the Play Store. However, this OS is not completely finished. Either way, users of new smartphones from this brand will lose access to millions of apps. Whether she will be able to convince developers to write the app for the new platform is also uncertain. Just remember how mobile Windows turned out.
Although the division hard times are beginning for the smartphone, the network division, on the other hand, is doing well. Huawei is successfully closing contracts for building fifth generation networks around the world. In addition, it is very likely that it will build new generation networks in the Czech Republic as well.
The fate of Huawei probably won't affect ads on the lock screen too much. However, they can erode trust in the brand, especially in Western Europe. Which, again, Apple can use to their privacy marketing advantage.
Source: PhoneArena, Twitter (1, 2, 3)
Desperate Huawei is doing desperate things….