Chinese restrictions on Google services could set back the release date of Huawei’s smartwatch to 2016, according to the company’s wearables manager Yang Yong.
Though the Google ban will impact the smartwatch’s release in Huawei’s home country, Yang told the WSJ the watch will be available in Europe and the US by Q3 of 2015.
The company is facing restrictions on the usage of Google’s Android Wear in its product due to Chinese bans on Google solutions in place since 2010.
The watch, unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2015 in March, is the firm’s answer to Apple’s iWatch.
Huawei has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vodafone Group Enterprise.
The venture will focus on the enterprise market in Europe, Asia, Pacific, and Africa, based on the development of a variety of enterprise communications and technology services for global enterprise customers.
Nick Jeffery, CEO of Vodafone Group Enterprise, said: "We have worked with Huawei across various parts of our business and this agreement to focus on the enterprise market is an important evolution. There is an opportunity for us both to bring our expertise to bear on some of the key challenges in the enterprise market."
Yan Lida, President, Enterprise Business Group, Huawei, said, "Now, many enterprises realise that technology-led transformation is necessary for companies to stay competitive, and improve operational efficiency and performance.
"We aim to carry out joint innovations, integrate our ICT expertise and global resources, help customers cope with challenges and opportunities brought by the new industrial revolution, and push ICT transformation in the industry."
