Tuesday packed a lot of heat and tension for Huawei as Microsoft pulled out the MateBook X Pro from its online store. Experts have weighed in on the issue as tech analysts closely watch over the Microsoft Store to see what other gadgets will be removed in the long Run.
The big question is, what will Huawei do next ? Below are what experts believe China's biggest tech behemoth will do if Microsoft and other American markets completely cut ties with it like Google is willing to do for the White House.
5. Keep it Tough
Huawei Founder Ren Zhengfei already made it clear that the firm will not back down in US President Donald Trump's war. Analysts are expecting the issue to keep blowing up unless one of the two sides gives in.
So far, Ren has stood firm behind the company he built over the past years - not to mention his daughter, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Meng Wanzhou, is currently under house arrest in Canada.
Most analysts believe Huawei will continue defying US attacks as Ren told Chinese media over the weekend that the "current practice of US politicians underestimates our strength." His statements have ignited talks about the Chinese tech equipment company's apparent preparations for what could come next.
4. Stockpile for the Next 90 Days
The US Department of Commerce said that it will allow Huawei to collaborate with American firms for 90 days so the company can still cater to existing clients and provide service to its massive smartphone user base.
Business experts believe the Chinese Honor maker will continue stockpile chips as it has started doing over the last two years. Ren revealed in a media briefing that stockpiling on critical chipsets was part of the company's preparations for an "inevitable" war with the U.S. government.
Ren further revealed that he already felt the U.S. "would attack" but after his daughter was arrested upon the White House's request, the supposed attack that he forecasted for 2020 took place this year.
While Trump seems to have been one step ahead in this fight, Ren indicated that Huawei is pretty much "well prepared" for whatever plan of attack the U.S. government has in store. Meng has also been defiant amid her house arrest and has been spotted multiple times outside of her house with a smile. Not bad for all the pressure going on.
Unlike ZTE, Huawei is bigger, better, stronger. It has overcome many obstacles in the past and many experts are confident it can withstand succeeding Trump tirades, even if it means having to sacrifice Google and Microsoft ventures.
3. Retaliate through Mass Support
A strong and massive wave of support has been showered on Huawei following the Google ban and Microsoft's pull-out move. It is worth noting that China has the world's biggest population and Chinese social media users have a strong voice when united.
This time, Chinese social media pages, individuals, and influencers rallied to support their homegrown smartphone giant. Unfortunately, Apple has been caught up in the mess.
Multiple outlets reported on Wednesday that Chinese consumers have started calling on the world to boycott Apple, Huawei's American rival. It is unclear how huge of an impact a nation-wide boycott could do to the American smartphone firm but analysts say it could hurt of the short-term.
Many Chinese netizens have accused the White House of "bullying" Huawei. In fact, a hashtag translated as "Huawei's chip doesn't need to rely on U.S. supply chain" has been used over 50 million times over the last few days on Weibo, China's mainstream social media platform.
The Weibo blow-up doesn't come as a surprise, considering that many Chinese consumers are patriotic and largely support homegrown providers.
2. Drop Android
Several analysts have already indicated that Huawei has the technology, capacity, and funds to completely turn its back on Android just like Google turned away due to pressure from the U.S. government.
Other industry experts even urged smartphone enthusiasts and consumers to not be surprised if Huawei and other phone makers start working on their own operating systems.
The firm already has App Gallery and based on Ren's earlier comments about "preparation" for the war, it seems Huawei will surprise the smartphone community with its own top-notch response to Android.
1. Turn to New but Eager App Developers
Just in: Huawei has announced two new partners as it seeks to expand its App Gallery amid the inevitable Android fallout after 90 days.
The Chinese tech giant did not disappoint spectators who have shown support over the last few months and since Meng's arrest. It has secured deals with The Explorers and SQUID . Critics should not disregard the fact that these two collaborations came not even 24 hours after Microsoft took Dropped the MateBook X Pro from its online shop.
It is expected that the company will continue securing deals with app-development startups who may be new to the app circle but have enough potential to divide and conquer within the next decades.
Analysts are expecting Huawei to keep doing what it does best: surprising Trump who has been reiterating that he will subdue a company that refuses to go down with or without Google and Microsoft.
