Facebook Blocks Huawei From Pre-Installing Instagram, WhatsApp on Its Phones
Huawei is running into more problems this week after the US government banned businesses from doing business with the Chinese company. Reuters is reporting that Facebook is now joining Google, Microsoft, Qualcomm, and others in the Huawei ban.
The social network giant is reportedly pulling its apps from Huawei devices. More specifically, Huawei will no longer be able to pre-install Facebook apps on its new phones, and that includes Facebook itself, as well as WhatsApp and Instagram. Facebook said the company’s apps will continue work and receive updates for existing users, but new users who get new (and existing) phones, won’t be able to get the apps pre-installed.
Facebook blocking its popular apps from being pre-installed on Huawei devices is a big blow to the phone maker. Although new owners of current Huawei devices will simply be able to download Facebook apps from the Play Store, owners of the company’s upcoming devices will be left out.
As Google is blocking its services on new Huawei devices, users won’t be able to access the Play Store, meaning they won’t be able to install popular social apps like Instagram and WhatsApp. They will still likely be able to access Facebook services through the web app counterparts, but without the native mobile apps, Huawei’s upcoming phones may no longer be a choice for people looking to buy new phones.