Huawei has chosen TomTom to replace Google Maps on its new smartphones. Still without an Android license, the manufacturer has no choice but to find replacements for Google apps. In terms of mapping, Huawei has set its sights on TomTom, which will replace Google Maps by default on the manufacturer's smartphones.
TomTom has just announced that it has signed a partnership with Huawei. The company will supply its technologies to the Chinese giant. The latter has carte blanche to use TomTom's real-time mapping, navigation and traffic data. In other words, the alternative to Google Maps developed by Huawei will be based on the Dutch firm's technologies. The deal was completed for some time, but was not made public until last Friday.
It is now several months since Huawei had its Android license revoked amid a trade war between the United States and China. The two countries are close to reaching an agreement that will put an end, barely temporarily, to their differences. However, there is nothing to suggest a respite for Huawei, which remains on the Trump administration's blacklist. The Chinese company is still hoping for an end to the crisis but is working at the same time to get rid of American technologies.
Read also: Huawei – U.S. Wants to Offer More Than $1 Billion to Competitors on 5G
The partnership with TomTom is a new step in the manufacturer's race for independence from the United States. Harmony OS, its home operating system is not about to be launched on smartphones anytime soon. In the meantime, Huawei is very content with Android Open Source Project, but still lags behind the handicap that is the absence of Google services. TomTom is a great alternative to Google Maps and we can expect several more partnerships of this kind in the coming months.
Source: Engadget