Microsoft now has license to work with Huawei

The US Department of Commerce has just granted Microsoft's request for a trade license to continue working with Huawei.

File photo: Huawei Matebook 13 with Windows inside

Huawei Microsoft reunion

The news was confirmed by a Microsoft spokesperson to Reuters. It means that Microsoft is now allowed to export mass-market to the Chinese tech giant.

To keep it simple, it is safe to assume that Huawei is now allowed to use Microsoft's Windows OS in its Matebook laptop line again.

On November 20, the U.S. Department of Commerce granted Microsoft’s request for a license to export mass-market software to Huawei. We appreciate the Department’s action in response to our request, a Microsoft spokesman told Reuters via email.

Just a few days back, Trump administration has issued a new 90-day temporary license to Huawei which allows them to work with US companies for components that "do not pose a threat to US national security".

Huawei was also granted permission to resume limited operations in the network and equipment sector, mobile services, and cybersecurity fields.

It is just unclear whether US will allow Google to work with Huawei again.

To recall, Huawei was added to the "Entity List" of US in May due to "national security" threat allegations.

This move prevented Huawei from shipping the Mate 30 flagship phones with Google Mobile Services and Google Play Store out of the box.

But, Reuters reported, that the Commerce Department confirmed it had begun issuing licenses for some companies to sell goods to Huawei.

To date, US has roughly 300 license requests and about half of which had been processed.

Huawei previously said that once it is allowed to do business with US companies again,  it has an OTA (over-the-air) update ready to seed to its users.

So, let's wait and see if Huawei will get Google back.

Source: Reuters