Huawei 'analyzing the possibility' of 'Google edition' Ascend P6

Despite earlier denials, Huaweireportedly now says it's looking into the possibility of a 'Google Play edition'P6

At his company's flashy London launch event for its new Ascend P6 handset last week, HuaweiConsumer Business Group CEO Richard Yu told journalists in no uncertain terms that the manufacturer wasn't interested in putting out a "Google edition" version of the product it'd just announced. But today we're seeing signs of a turnaround, as UK tech blog Pocket-Lint reports that another Huawei exec has said such a device is very much within the realms of possibility.

The site quotes Huawei handset division president Kevin Ho as saying "we are working with Google to analyze the possibility of bringing out a Huawei Ascend P6 with Google Edition," during a private one-on-one meeting. Obviously that's a pretty significant turnaround from the official position just a week ago, when CEO Yu extolled the benefits of the company's latest Emotion UI over the stock Google experience.

If Huawei were able to bring out a "Google Play edition" P6 with vanilla Android, it'd present many benefits to the Chinese manufacturer. Firstly, it'd get upcoming Android code in advance of the open-source code drop, something it doesn't currently get due to not being a Nexus partner. And it could also present Huaweiwith a back door into the U.S. market, a market it's effectively been shut out of following concerns over its ties to the Chinese government.

For now it looks like a Huawei-made "Google Play edition" handset if such a product is to launch is in the early stages of planning. But we'll keep you abreast of any further developments, and in the meantime be sure to share your thoughts down in the comments.

More: Huawei Ascend P6 hands-on

Source: Pocket-Lint

Via: Huawei 'analyzing the possibility' of 'Google edition' Ascend P6