E3 2019 Press Conference Schedule -- Times And Dates Confirmed - GameSpot

E3 2019 officially kicks off next week, but the true highlights of the show--the press conferences that directly precede it--have already begun. We've seen a Pokemon Sword / Shield Direct and Google's Stadia Connect, but there are still plenty to come from the likes of Xbox, Nintendo, Bethesda, Ubisoft, and Square Enix, among others. Below, you'll find a schedule of each press conference taking place along with details on how to watch them live. Afterward, come back here to find our news recaps and other essential information. Oh, and if you're looking for an E3 press conference schedule with UK times, we've got you covered.

Numerous announcements continue to leak, and some of the latest include what might be Bandai Namco's entire E3 lineup. Most notable of those is Elden Ring, a new game from From Software (of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro fame) and George RR Martin (author of A Song of Ice and Fire, the novels Game of Thrones is based on). That was leaked at roughly the same time as Ni no Kuni Remastered and Tales of Arise.

E3 2019 Schedule Overview

• June 6, 9 AM PT -- Google Stadia Connect
• June 8, 9:15 AM PT -- EA Play Livestreams
• June 8, 11 AM PT -- Nintendo Invitational Tournaments
• June 9, 1 PM PT -- Microsoft Press Conference
• June 9, 5:30 PM PT -- Bethesda Press Conference
• June 9, 7 PM PT -- Devolver Press Conference
• June 10, 10 AM PT -- PC Gaming Show
• June 10, 12 PM PT -- Limited Run Games Press Conference
• June 10, 1 PM PT -- Ubisoft Press Conference
• June 10, 4:30 PM PT -- Kinda Funny Showcase
• June 10, 6 PM PT -- Square Enix Press Conference
• June 11, 9 AM PT -- Nintendo Direct Showcase

The next big event is Electronic Arts' EA Play. While EA isn't holding a formal press conference, it is hosting a series of streams focusing on its game library for the year. Those will begin on Saturday morning, June 8, and detail games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Madden and FIFA 20, and future plans for Apex Legends and Battlefield V.

E3 itself will once again be held in Los Angeles, California at the Los Angeles Convention Center, but this year's E3 will be a bit different, as it continues to move in somewhat of a new direction. Sony will not attend the show or host its usual press conference. E3 proper is still hosting many big-name developers and publishers, including Microsoft, Nintendo, Bethesda, and Square Enix, which will surely deliver announcements on new games, new trailers, and more news.

One thing is clear: Even if we now know every event that's happening over the next two weeks, we won't be lacking a surplus of game news over the next week and a half. Expect plenty more rumors and leaks, too--one of the latest, Ninja Theory's new game, is sure to pop up during the Xbox press conference.

Below, you'll find an in-depth breakdown of what to expect, how to watch each briefing live, and where to find our liveblogs.

E3 2019 Press Conference Schedule

Thursday, June 6

Google - 9 AM PT

Google held its Stadia Connect event on June 6, revealing both new games and a ton of core details about the service. Baldur's Gate III was shown to be real, Destiny 2's Shadowkeep DLC was unveiled and we heard the first confirmation about cross-save support, and we got a price, release date, and more for the Stadia cloud streaming service itself. Stadia Pro will launch later this year as a part of the Founder's Edition, with a freely accessible version of Stadia, Stadia Base, coming next year.

Saturday, June 8

Electronic Arts - 9:15 AM PT

The EA Play event runs from June 8-9 and takes place at the Hollywood Palladium. Attendees can play unreleased EA games, but there will not be a traditional press conference. Instead, EA will host a series of livestreams on Saturday to showcase a variety of games. We know that Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order will be there, as will Apex Legends (specifically, the reveal of Season 2), Battlefield V, the upcoming slate of EA Sports games, and "more."

The company has now also provided an EA Play schedule for when each game will be featured during the stream; you can see that below in Pacific Time. Everything gets underway on June 8 at 9:15 AM PT / 12:15 PM ET / 5:15 PM BST (2:15 AM AET on June 9).

• 9:15 AM: Countdown to EA Play
• 9:30 AM: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Hosted by Greg Miller and Andrea Rene)
• 10:00 AM: Apex Legends (Hosted by Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez)
• 10:30 AM: Battlefield (Hosted by Julia Hardy and Adam Freeman)
• 11:00 AM: FIFA 20 (Hosted by Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez)
• 11:30 AM: Madden NFL 20 (Hosted by Adam Rank)
• 12:00 PM: The Sims 4 (Hosted by Andrea Rene)

Nintendo Esports - 11 AM PT

The Mario company is holding an esports tournament in Los Angeles just prior to the start of E3. The Super Mario Maker 2 Invitational 2019, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate World Championship 2019 3v3 tournament, and the Splatoon 2 World Championship 2019 tournament will be held on June 8. All of this starts at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET / 7 PM BST (4 AM AET on June 9)

Sunday, June 9

Microsoft - 1 PM PT

Microsoft has scheduled its traditional Xbox-focused conference for June 9 at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET / 9 PM BST (6 AM AET on June 10). The company plans to "go big," according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer. Microsoft is expected to potentially announce its new console(s) and share more details about Halo Infinite during its press conference, but nothing has been specifically confirmed. Phil Spencer has, however, teased that 14 first-party games will be on display during the event, including those from some of the studios that Microsoft acquired last year. Most recently, Xbox teased it's bringing "something new" to the show, the curious wording of which might point to some kind of exciting reveal.

Bethesda - 5:30 PM PT

Bethesda's traditional press conference is held on June 9 at 5:30 PM PT / 8:30 PM ET (1:30 AM BST / 10 AM AET on June 10). The company is not expected to talk about The Elder Scrolls 6 or Starfield, but bear in mind Bethesda as a publisher is involved with games like Doom Eternal, Rage 2, and much more than just the output of Bethesda Game Studios.

Devolver Digital - 7 PM PT

The indie publisher is back once again this year with a press conference scheduled for 7 PM PT / 10 PM ET (3 AM BST / 12 PM AET on June 10). There's little indication of what to expect, but the company has a history of unorthodox press conferences and a quality slate of games.

Monday, June 10

PC Gaming Show - 10 AM PT

The PC-focused briefing takes place on June 10 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST (3 AM AET on June 11). This year, the PC Gamer-run show has partnered with the Epic Games Store and should bring more news and announcements regarding computer games. Among those confirmed for the show are Evil Genius 2 and a "major" unannounced title from Rebellion.

Limited Run Games - 12 PM PT

The company responsible for releasing physical versions of digital-only Switch, PS4, and PS Vita titles is holding a conference on June 10 at 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET / 8 PM BST (5 AM AET on June 11). No exact announcements have been revealed, but Limited Run plans on showcasing "several upcoming releases" as well as the entire schedule for remaining Vita titles.

Ubisoft - 1 PM PT

The Assassin's Creed company will hold its briefing on June 10 at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET / 9 PM BST (6 AM AET on June 11). Little is known about what Ubisoft will talk about, but Watch Dogs Legion is now confirmed for the conference following its leak. There's also recently been talk of a new Splinter Cell, but nothing has been confirmed yet on that front. We're sure to hear more about Ghost Recon Breakpoint, the Wildlands sequel that releases later this year. A Ubisoft rollerblading game has leaked and, if real, will presumably show up during this press conference too.

Kinda Funny - 4:30 PM PT

Media company Kinda Funny Games will be hosting an event of its own, not unlike what it did this past December. It's set to take place at on June 10 at 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET (12:30 AM BST / 9:30 AM AET on June 11). No specific announcements have been teased, although December's event did bring some news and extended looks at a variety of games.

Square Enix - 6 PM ET

For the second year in a row, the RPG giant is holding its own live E3 presentation. This year, the broadcast will take place on June 10 at 6 PM ET / 9 PM PT (2 AM BST / 11 AM AET on June 11)--the time slot that Sony's PlayStation briefing traditionally occupies. Square Enix teases that this year's presentation will showcase "another exciting line up of titles," one of which is likely to be Final Fantasy VII Remake. Besides that, Square Enix will officially reveal Marvel's Avengers.

Tuesday, June 11

Nintendo - 9 AM PT

As the company typically does, Nintendo is airing a pre-recorded Nintendo Direct presentation on the Tuesday morning of E3 week. The broadcast begins on June 11 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM BST (2 AM AET on June 12) and will offer viewers a look at "Nintendo Switch games coming in 2019." Afterward, the company will air its annual Treehouse livestream, which will continue throughout the rest of E3 week. This all follows the June 5 Pokemon Direct that further detailed Nintendo Switch's Pokemon Sword and Shield.

June 11-13

E3 2019's show floor is open June 11-13. Like the two previous years, tickets to the event were sold publicly.

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https://www.gamespot.com/articles/all-the-e3-2019-press-conference-dates-and-times-s/1100-6465962/

2019-06-08 08:10:00Z
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Google Stadia: All Details You Need To Know -- Games, Price, Release Date, Founder's Edition - GameSpot

Google has finally shared the release details for Stadia, the cloud-based game streaming platform it revealed back in March. During the Google Stadia Connect event right before E3 2019, the company announced that Stadia will first launch in November 2019 as part of a special Founder's Edition for early adopters, with the free Stadia Base for everyone else following in 2020. You can pre-order the Stadia Founder's Edition right now.

Unlike conventional platforms, Stadia is a cloud-based gaming service, with games running remotely on dedicated servers while seamlessly streaming to nearly any device that can support Google's Chrome browser. This theoretically enables players to access cutting edge games without investing in cutting edge hardware, along with a host of other interesting perks, such as the ability to jump directly from watching a streamer play something into trying and then buying the game. We got our hands on Stadia at an event earlier, and were broadly impressed, if a little skeptical about the effect of variable connection speed and input lag on twitchy games like Doom (2016), despite Google's assurances that it will not be an issue.

The only physical hardware included in Stadia is its controller, which uses Wi-Fi to connect directly to the remote data center running the game. Selling for $69, it's largely a standard gamepad, with the addition of buttons for easily capturing footage and for calling up Google Assistant to ask for in-game help.

Some big games and content was announced during the Stadia Connect event, including Baldur's Gate III and Destiny 2: Shadowkeep. You can check out our news recap for more details on all of that; below you'll get the rundown on the core details on what we learned about Stadia.

Stadia Founder's Edition

Available for pre-order now, the Founder's Edition is the only way to access Stadia at launch in November 2019. Selling for $130 from Google, the Stadia Founder's Edition includes:

• A limited-edition night blue controller
• A Chromecast Ultra
• A three-month subscription to the Stadia Pro service
• First dibs on your Stadia Name
• A three-month Buddy Pass to Stadia Pro for a friend

Pre-order Stadia Founder's Edition now »

Stadia Base

Starting in 2020, Stadia will be available to anyone with a controller and a compatible device--at first that will include any computer with a Chrome browser and a Pixel 3 or 3a phone. Users will be able to buy and keep games, granting unlimited access to their library from anywhere at up to 1080p/60fps with stereo sound. This is known as Stadia Base.

Stadia Pro

To get the complete Stadia experience, you'll need to pay $10 per month for access to Stadia Pro, the accompanying subscription service, which includes everything from the Base experience with the addition of:

• Streaming up to 4K/60fps/HDR in 5.1 surround sound
• Access to a library of free games for the duration of your subscription (like Xbox Game Pass)
• Exclusive discounts on purchasing games (for full access even with a lapsed subscription)
• For a limited time, access to the complete Destiny 2 experience, including all previous and upcoming add-ons

Stadia Launch Countries

Stadia will launch in November in 14 countries, with more regions following in 2020: US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland.

Stadia Launch Titles

Stadia will launch with more than 30 titles, including some brand new, hotly-anticipated releases, such as Doom Eternal and Borderlands 3.

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https://www.gamespot.com/articles/google-stadia-all-details-you-need-to-know-games-p/1100-6467345/

2019-06-07 16:37:00Z
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E3 2019: How it's changing and what to expect - CNET

E3 attendees enter last year's show.

Josh Miller/CNET

Next week brings chaos. Next week brings hype. Next week brings the onslaught of endless video game trailers. Next week brings E3. 

But E3 isn't the beast it once was. E3 is changing.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3 for short, began life in 1995, partly in response to disrespect toward video games as an industry. After being tossed into the back end of shows like CES (often in tents) video game publishers decided to break out on their own and create an event just for video games. 

The rest was history. Over the course of the next few decades, E3 became a juggernaut.

For years E3 has been the battleground on which major publishers like EA, Activision and Ubisoft battle for the attention of the games press and the wider public. A space where platform holders like Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony reveal new consoles or announce pivotal big ideas. Sony unveiled the first PlayStation at E3 in 1995, Microsoft took the wraps off Kinect in 2009. Perhaps most famously, Nintendo showed off The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the first time and the crowd literally went wild. E3 is the home of the Megaton, the big reveal. A primordial swamp for memes, GIFs and catchphrases.

E3 has been the central point of the video game universe for a long time, but in 2019 things feel a little different. E3 has lost relevance, yet in some ways it's bigger than ever. 

I say E3 is changing because video games themselves are changing.

The hydra

We live in interesting times. In 2019, "video games" means Fortnite and Apex Legends. It means livestreaming and rapid digital delivery. It means free-to-play. It means mobile gaming and Hollow Knight and breakthrough indie hits made by two-man teams.

Today, the concept of video games has branched and broken out into a multiheaded hydra that's near impossible to encapsulate, let alone express in one single event.

E3 flourished at a time when games as a product were at their most focused. They came in a box you bought in a store. You played them on consoles you plugged into your television. Simpler times. Every five years the cycle repeated itself. New consoles, new games, grand leaps in technology and visual fidelity.

But the cycle as it once existed is beginning to fade and we're seeing those changes reflected in what E3's become and what it's about to become. In 2019 companies like Sony and Microsoft don't necessarily need a show like E3 to unveil new consoles or new video games. At the very least, E3's value as a platform for engaging media has diminished.

Nintendo was perhaps the first to realize this. The company still appears at the show, but it no longer holds a traditional press conference. Now it runs an episode of Nintendo Direct, a prerecorded video package previewing its upcoming lineup, streamed live on its YouTube and Twitch pages. The Nintendo Direct presentation isn't even unique to E3. It's a format that Nintendo uses frequently throughout the year, showcasing whatever product it happens to be selling at that moment.

Nintendo doesn't need E3, but it sure as hell takes advantage of the hype that still surrounds it.

Now everyone else is in the process of playing catch-up. Microsoft has Inside Xbox and Sony recently launched State of Play, a YouTube style show that mimics Nintendo Direct.

In these curated spaces, the companies are in complete control of the message and stream it directly to the eyeballs of consumers.

Consoles have changed

E3 started in 1995. It was a different, barely recognizable world.

We were a full decade away from YouTube. A full 16 years before Twitch. Back then a trade show was the most efficient way for publishers to get games in front of the press, and therefore potential consumers.

In 2019 that feels like ancient history. The media as it once existed still exists, but there's been a tremendous power shift. Audiences no longer need a middle man (or woman), and even if they do, it's more likely to be an angry YouTube "influencer" than a member of the press.  

In 2017, E3 opened its doors to the public for the first time, issuing 15,000 passes for those willing to pay money to attend like it was Comic-Con. In 2019, E3 is like Comic-Con. It already is a public event. Livestreams of the conferences have been available for years, Nintendo's Treehouse livestream, available on Twitch, already provides just as much access to games content as the press has on the show floor.

This year Sony is not attending E3. It feels significant.

"Can't [E3] just be a celebration of games and have panels where we bring game developers closer to fans?" Shawn Layden, Sony's head of game development studios, said in an interview with CNET earlier this year. E3, he said, needs to evolve past being the place where companies drop their big bomb announcements every year.

Sony's next major move is the PlayStation 5 reveal. In 2019, announcing the PS5 at a show like E3, in a competitive space, considering the resources at Sony's disposal, would be nothing short of madness.

So, no PS5, and most likely no Megatons -- but what are we going to get? Probably trailers, maybe a few new crowd-pleasers. Definitely expect Microsoft to take the initiative and reveal more about that Google Stadia game streaming competitor currently known as "Project XCloud." But don't expect too much more than that.

Stanley Pierre-Louis, the newly minted CEO of the Entertainment Software Association  (the lobby group behind E3) maintains this year's event will be "one of the most exciting shows in years" and he might be right. In an interview with CNET he said  there are 200 exhibitors this year, both large and small. Crucially -- 50 of that 200 are exhibiting for this first time. That seems important: new voices, new people, new exhibitors. Key word: new. 

E3 is a show in the process of finding its way in a world where the E3 of yesteryear doesn't quite make sense anymore. E3 is changing because video games are changing. And change doesn't happen overnight.

Upcoming E3 press conferences

Saturday, June 8

Sunday, June 9

Monday, June 10

Tuesday, June 11

• Nintendo (livestream only) -- 9 a.m. PT (noon ET)

We'll be there

CNET will be on the ground, covering covering E3 2019 alongside our sister site, GameSpot. We'll update this page throughout the show as more games are announced.

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https://www.cnet.com/news/e3-2019-how-its-changing-and-what-to-expect/

2019-06-07 13:38:00Z
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Facebook Blocks Huawei From Pre-Installing Instagram, WhatsApp on Its Phones - Thurrott.com

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.

Tagged with Facebook, Huawei, Instagram, WhatsApp

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https://www.thurrott.com/hardware/208153/facebook-blocks-huawei-from-pre-installing-instagram-whatsapp-on-its-phones

2019-06-07 09:17:03Z
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Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Pro renders emerge: No Bixby button or 3.5mm port here either - Android Authority

We got our first apparent look at the Galaxy Note 10 yesterday courtesy of trusted tipster OnLeaks. Now, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Pro model has purportedly leaked as well.

The new renders, via OnLeaks and PriceBaba, show a phone that’s fundamentally similar to renders apparently showing the standard Galaxy Note 10. That means a center-mounted punch-hole camera, for one, compared to the top-right corner in the Galaxy S10 series. Neither this phone nor the vanilla Note 10 seem to offer dual selfie cameras like the Galaxy S10 Plus.

We don’t see a Bixby button here either, nor do we see a 3.5mm port on the top or bottom. Instead, the bottom only hosts a USB-C port, S-Pen slot, and speaker grille. The lack of a 3.5mm port here suggests Samsung is 100 percent committed to ditching the standard later this year, likely driving users to buy Galaxy Buds instead.

There are a few differences between this render and the vanilla Note 10 render though. Both phones offer a vertically stacked triple rear camera setup, but it seems like the Pro model also offers an additional camera just outside the main camera housing. Hopefully Samsung is adopting normal, wide, and telephoto sensors at the very least for maximum flexibility.

Editor's Pick

Best Samsung phones you can buy right now – flagship, mid-range and budget models

Samsung is without a doubt the biggest name in the Android world, and if you are considering purchasing a new phone, logic dictates you may be looking to pick up a phone made by the Korean …

The tipster also reports that the phone will have a 6.75-inch display, while claiming that the standard model’s screen weighs in at 6.3-inches. Bigger screens usually equal bigger batteries as well, so hopefully the Galaxy Note 10 Pro offers more juice than the standard model if the renders are indeed accurate.

We’re expecting Samsung’s Pro model to offer a Snapdragon 855 or Exynos 9820 chipset, at least 128GB of storage, and an in-display fingerprint sensor. What would you like to see from the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Pro? Sound off in the comments below!

NEXT: Realme will launch a 5G smartphone in 2019 — Set to take on Mi Mix 3 5G?

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https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-galaxy-note-10-pro-995742/

2019-06-07 08:52:03Z
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Google Stadia: All The Details You Need To Know -- Games, Price, Release Date, Founder's Edition - GameSpot

Google has finally shared the release details for Stadia, the cloud-based game streaming platform it revealed back in March. Announced at the Google Stadia Connect event right before E3 2019, it was announced that Stadia will first launch in November 2019 as part of a special Founder's Edition for early adopters, with the Stadia Base for everyone else in 2020. You can pre-order the Stadia Founder's Edition starting today.

Unlike conventional platforms, Stadia is a cloud-based gaming service, with games running remotely on dedicated servers while seamlessly streaming to nearly any device that can support Google's Chrome browser. This theoretically enables players to access cutting edge games without investing in cutting edge hardware, along with a host of other interesting perks, such as the ability to jump directly from watching a streamer play something into trying and then buying the game. We got our hands on Stadia at an event earlier, and were broadly impressed, if a little skeptical about the effect of variable connection speed and input lag on twitchy games like Doom (2016), despite Google's assurances that it will not be an issue.

The only physical hardware included in Stadia is its controller, which uses Wi-Fi to connect directly to the remote data center running the game. Selling for $69, it's largely a standard gamepad, with the addition of buttons for easily capturing footage and for calling up Google Assistant to ask for in-game help.

Some big games and content was announced during the Stadia Connect event, including Baldur's Gate III and Destiny 2: Shadowkeep. You can check out our news recap for more details on all of that; below you'll get the rundown on the core details on what we learned about Stadia.

Stadia Founder's Edition

Available for pre-order now, the Founder's Edition is the only way to access Stadia at launch in November 2019. Selling for $130 from Google, the Stadia Founder's Edition includes:

• A limited-edition night blue controller
• A Chromecast Ultra
• A three-month subscription to the Stadia Pro service
• First dibs on your Stadia Name
• A three-month Buddy Pass to Stadia Pro for a friend

Pre-order Stadia Founder's Edition now »

Stadia Base

Starting in 2020, Stadia will be available to anyone with a controller and a compatible device--at first that will include any computer with a Chrome browser and a Pixel 3 or 3a phone. Users will be able to buy and keep games, granting unlimited access to their library from anywhere at up to 1080p/60fps with stereo sound. This is known as Stadia Base.

Stadia Pro

To get the complete Stadia experience, you'll need to pay $10 per month for access to Stadia Pro, the accompanying subscription service, which includes everything from the Base experience with the addition of:

• Streaming up to 4K/60fps/HDR in 5.1 surround sound
• Access to a library of free games for the duration of your subscription (like Xbox Game Pass)
• Exclusive discounts on purchasing games (for full access even with a lapsed subscription)
• For a limited time, access to the complete Destiny 2 experience, including all previous and upcoming add-ons

Stadia Launch Countries

Stadia will launch in November in 14 countries, with more regions following in 2020: US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland.

Stadia Launch Titles

Stadia will launch with more than 30 titles, including some brand new, hotly-anticipated releases, such as Doom Eternal and Borderlands 3.

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https://www.gamespot.com/articles/google-stadia-all-the-details-you-need-to-know-gam/1100-6467345/

2019-06-07 08:01:00Z
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Exclusive: Facebook suspends app pre-installs on Huawei phones - Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc is no longer allowing pre-installation of its apps on Huawei phones, the latest blow for the Chinese tech giant as it struggles to keep its business afloat in the face of a U.S. ban on its purchase of American parts and software.

FILE PHOTO: Huawei P30 handset is displayed in a phone shop at a shopping centre in Bangkok, Thailand May 22, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo

Customers who already have Huawei phones will still be able to use its apps and receive updates, Facebook told Reuters. But new Huawei phones will no longer be able to have Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram apps pre-installed.

Smartphone vendors often enter business deals to pre-install popular apps such as Facebook. Apps including Twitter and Booking.com also come pre-installed on Huawei phones in many markets. Twitter Inc declined to comment and Booking Holdings did not respond to a request.

The move by Facebook dampens the sales outlook for Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, whose smartphone business became its biggest revenue generator last year, powered by strong growth in Europe and Asia.

Huawei declined to comment.

Alphabet Inc’s Google said earlier that it would no longer provide Android software for Huawei phones after a 90-day reprieve granted by the U.S. government expires in August. But Google’s Playstore and all Google apps will still be available for current models of Huawei phones including those which have not yet shipped or even been built.

The Facebook ban, by contrast, applies to any Huawei phone that has not yet left the factory, according to a person familiar with the matter. Facebook declined to comment on when the suspension took place.

In May, Washington banned U.S. companies from supplying technology to Huawei, part of a long-running campaign against the company. The United States alleges that Huawei is too close to the Chinese government and that its telecom network gear and other products could be a conduit for espionage, which Huawei denies.

Buyers of current Huawei phone models that do not have Facebook pre-installed would still be able to download it from the Google Playstore. Future versions of Huawei phones, however, will not have access to the Google Playstore and its apps unless the U.S. government changes course.

Huawei has said it was prepared for the U.S. action and vowed to work around any disruptions. But some customers at stores in Europe and Asia have told Reuters that they are reluctant to buy Huawei phones in the face of uncertainties, and analysts expect a dramatic drop in Huawei smartphone sales.

Reporting by Katie Paul in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Tony Munroe in Beijing and Sijia Jiang in Hong Kong; Editing by Stephen Coates

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-huawei-tech-usa-facebook-exclusive/exclusive-facebook-suspends-app-pre-installs-on-huawei-phones-idUSKCN1T80D7

2019-06-07 05:26:00Z
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