Chinese telecom giant Huawei technologies Co. Ltd is all set to put its collaboration with Dutch Digital maps company TomTom to introduce Google Maps feature for their phones.
What Actually Happened?
Huawei can now use the Dutch digital mapping company’s maps, visitor’s information, and navigation software to enhance apps for its smartphones. This news was unveiled by a TomTom spokesperson informed Reuters on Friday.
The deal, signed some time ago, was now not made public until late remaining week, introduced the spokesperson.
Why It is so Much Important?
The U.S. Department of Commerce banned Huawei and placed the Chinese smartphone maker on its entity list, citing national safety dangers in May 2019.
Google suspended all commercial enterprise activities with Huawei, including the switch of software and key technical services. This compelled Huawei to quit relying on Google’s Android mobile operating machine for its smartphones
The Chinese phone maker, at the time, spoke back to Google, saying it would construct its personal running system. Later in August, a report posted in China Daily claimed Huawei should enhance its “mapping service,” to challenge Google Maps’ dominance.
Reuters reports that Huawei is entering this partnership with TomTom as the mapping tech agency is based in the Netherlands. It is consequently side-stepping the bans on working with US firms. TomTom will provide the Chinese smartphone manufacturer with mapping, stay visitors data, and software program on smartphones and tablets.
TomTom spokesman Remco Meerstra validated to Reuters that the deal had been closed sometime in the past however had no longer been made public via the company. This comes as TomTom unveiled plans to pass away from making navigation hardware and will focal point greater heavily on offering software program services as making this a massive step for TomTom and Huawei.
While TomTom doesn’t pretty in shape the international coverage and replace velocity of Google Maps, having a necessary element of it crammed by a dedicated navigation and mapping firm is one step that might appease workable global Huawei smartphone buyers. There is no denying the importance of Google app access outdoor of China but solid replacements ought to probably make a big distinction as even greater so if they are recognizable by using Western audiences.
It is uncertain when we may also see TomTom pre-installed on Huawei units but we are positive that this should be without difficulty introduced with the aid of way of an OTA software program update. The higher question stays if people are prepared to swap from Google Maps to TomTom for daily navigation.
