There is no WhatsApp in the App Gallery, why - briefly?
There is no WhatsApp in the App Gallery because Huawei's AppGallery does not support Google Play Services, which are required for WhatsApp to function properly. Additionally, there may be geopolitical factors contributing to its absence.
There is no WhatsApp in the App Gallery, why - in detail?
The absence of WhatsApp from Huawei's AppGallery can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, WhatsApp is owned by Meta (formerly Facebook), a company that has been subject to scrutiny and restrictions in China, where Huawei is based. The Chinese government has implemented stringent regulations on foreign technology companies, particularly those from the United States, due to concerns over data security and privacy. This regulatory environment makes it challenging for Meta to operate WhatsApp within the AppGallery ecosystem without compromising its own compliance standards or risking potential legal issues.
Secondly, the trade tensions between the United States and China have exacerbated the situation. The U.S. government has placed Huawei on an entity list, effectively banning American companies from doing business with it without a special license. This restriction includes providing software updates or support services, which complicates the integration of WhatsApp into AppGallery.
Moreover, Huawei's own efforts to develop alternative ecosystems and applications may also play a role in the absence of WhatsApp. By encouraging users to adopt its proprietary messaging apps like Huawei Messenger or Petal Maps instead of WhatsApp, Huawei can strengthen its control over the user experience and data management within its ecosystem.
In summary, the lack of WhatsApp in AppGallery is a result of complex geopolitical tensions, regulatory hurdles, and strategic decisions by both Huawei and Meta. These factors collectively contribute to the current state of affairs, where users of Huawei devices may need to seek alternative methods or platforms to access WhatsApp services.