In recent months, Huawei has attracted media attention for the decision of the United States Department of Commerce to include it, along with many other Chinese companies, on a blacklist of companies with which US companies – such as Google – cannot do business. Pablo Wang, Huawei’s Consumer Director in Spain, has been in technology for more than twelve years and fully trusts the firm’s good track record – present and future – in our country.
Let’s start philosophical: do mobiles bring you closer to those who are far and away from those who are close?
Mobile phones will be whatever we want them to be for us. Everything can be good or bad, depending on how we use it. And it is that a hand can bring you closer to someone or move him away, depending on the direction in which you project your strength.
What characteristics should a good leader have?
It must be someone with enormous enthusiasm and a great capacity for wonder; someone with the ability to see beyond, to glimpse the exact point on the horizon to go and mark the best route. In addition, and what is especially important, a leader must stay very close to those he leads to walk together and reach his destination.
Can you disconnect from technology in your leisure time?
I am passionate about technology, and everything related to the advances that allow us to improve our lives. That does not mean that I live exclusively by and for technology, but it does mean that I take “that step further” to be able to take advantage of all it has to offer.
What is the scientific figure that you most admire?
Marie Curie, Nikola Tesla, Leonardo da Vinci … It is not easy to refer to a single person. In Spain, where there are renowned scientists, I would like to highlight Mariano Barbacid, for his great contributions in the field of the fight against cancer. This is an area in which our company has a special sensitivity, and that we try to support through the collaboration we maintain with associations and NGOs, such as CRIS against Cancer.
Why do you think Huawei was blacklisted by the US Department of Commerce?
I think that question should be put to the US government. Huawei is a technology multinational, with 100% private capital and completely focused on innovation, investment in R&D and satisfying the needs of our customers. We only understand about improving people’s lives in a connected world.
Have Huawei’s sales in our country suffered due to the US veto crisis?
In Spain, the greatest impact on sales was recorded in the days following Google’s announcement, to then give way to a gradual recovery process. Obviously, doubts have arisen, but we have also felt the support of users. We do not do a breakdown of sales by country, but globally we are still the second largest manufacturer of mobile phones, and our sales continue to rise. This year we have broken our own sales record, with a whopping 200 million phones sold in 2019.
The second extension granted to US companies to work with Huawei will end in mid-November. Is the company ready to tackle a scenario without Google software?
We cannot speculate what will happen then at the political level. What we can do is ensure that nothing will change for users who already enjoy our products. We have been working and investing in a business continuity plan for years, through which we have prepared ourselves to face all possible scenarios.
If finally Huawei cannot equip its mobiles with Android due to a total break with Google, will they drop in price?
The truth is that, for the moment, nothing has changed. We remain focused on producing products and innovations that our consumers can enjoy. Our business is still strong, and we do not plan to change it at the moment.
If I buy a Huawei Mate 30, will I be able to use Google applications? What is the best method to install them?
The user will be able to use the applications and we will provide the best way for them to access them easily, quickly and intuitively. You can download the applications from our AppGallery –which already has more than 11,000 applications–, apart from being able to download and install everything that the online ecosystem offers you. In addition, you will have an extra layer of protection from the Avast antivirus scanner hands to be able to download whatever you want with complete peace of mind.
What plans does Huawei have regarding the mobile operating system that it launches from next spring? Will they work with an operating system developed from HarmonyOS even though it is still legally possible for them to work with Android?
For now, our main plan is still Android. Our commitment to this operating system has been underway for some time, and it has been a very beneficial agreement for both parties. It has been many years of collaboration, and we are counting on that we will be able, at some point, to resume this agreement.
What benefits will HarmonyOS offer to users?
It is very graphic to note that the project was called Hongmeng, which in Chinese is a word that refers to the sound that was produced with the explosion that started the universe – the big bang. It talks about when all things were one, because that is the idea behind HarmonyOS: a base on which to build a joint ecosystem, which unifies all our technology. We will continue to work on HarmonyOS, which will allow us to design an operating system that offers a consistent user experience across different scenarios and devices.
What are Huawei’s growth forecasts in the Spanish market?
As always, we are optimistic. We are going to continue offering the best technology, and the Spanish user is one that we especially pamper, because he is in tune with the philosophy of our company. So, although I can’t tell you a number, I can assure you that we really want to face the year 2020 and teach our consumers everything we are preparing for them.
After the opening of your macro-store in Madrid and the upcoming opening of an establishment in Barcelona, do you plan to open more stores in other Spanish cities?
Of course! The projects are still in the early stages, and we haven’t finished with the Barcelona store yet, but we certainly don’t want to stop there. The feedback we have had from customers about the Huawei store in Madrid has exceeded all expectations, so it won’t take long to bring the idea to other Spanish cities.
