Posted on 05/14/2018 6:03:33 PM PDT by Zhang Fei
Millions of American users of smartphones made by ZTE Corp. are already feeling the fallout from the U.S. Commerce Departments blacklisting of the Chinese phonemaker: Theyre unable to update Googles Android operating system.
Last months wide-ranging order by the U.S. Commerce Department prevents American companies from selling components and software to ZTE, the fourth-largest vendor of mobile phones in the U.S. That has led Google to halt updates to ZTE phones, leaving users cut off from security patches, technical support and other functions provided by the Android operating system used on ZTEs smartphones.
Though Chinese consumers have shunned ZTE in favor of other domestic brands, the company has found its biggest success in the U.S., where it captures a big share of the budget and midtier phone markets. The company in the U.S. trails only Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics. Popular ZTE devices include the flagship Axon M, a dual-screen phone unveiled last year, and its Blade line of smartphones.
Kyle D. Tackett, a 28-year-old worker at Walmart in Shelbyville, Ind., purchased his ZTE Axon 7 phone from a Frys Electronics store 18 months ago, because it was cheaper than top-end phones and he was impressed by its amazing speaker quality.
Unable to update his operating system to Android 8.0 last month as other brand phone users could, he said hes frustrated since that his phone is getting more buggy. When he tries to update, the phone searches for a minute before indicating a no network connection, he said.
I understand ZTE may have made a mistake but I believe the punishment is too severe, Mr. Tackett said in a series of message exchanges with the Journal. He said he was disappointed his phones functionality had been affected by what he called global politics.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
What’s the deal with ZTE phones? I haven’t really even heard about them until recently.
ZTE was supplying Iran and North Korea on the sly in a major way.
They got busted and the PRC gummint admonished they would beat them, smash their balls and FINE them in the most grueling way possible.
‘Cept it turned out they did none of that, instead giving them Ancient Chinese Seclet BONUSES for zeyah gleht spy wahk.
Yes, I’m serious.
So BUH-BYE~~~~!
Totally commie phones. ZTE is a communist company, Chinese owned. Android owners should switch and support an American company like Apple. Apple is making more of their components in the USA, and deals with Taiwanese companies, not communist China.
Okay, that makes more sense. Chinese espionage in a cute little full feature package.
Why should I care about the phone spying?
Google, Facebook and Amazon already sell my stuff to retailers and freely to Daddy Government Spooks
Everything I do on my Lenovo laptop already gives the Chinamen all my data
I get even, I only look at Chinese porn online! Me and Ho Lee Fuk speak often. ;)
They’ve been around for years. My Mom had an AT&T flip phone they made. Low end stuff until recently. Now they’re powerful enough to be loaded with spyware.
Pretty fancy critical thinking there apple shil!
Looks like I’ll have to make a trip to the AT&T store for an upgrade. We don’t get a cell signal where we live here in hill country so I just couldn’t see spending several hundred dollars for a phone. The phone’s just for when we go out.
I have an Android phone. Never once allowed updates to run on it, on the principle that if it isn’t broke, why fix it. It has worked fine all the time in spite of no Android updates since I bought it.
“Looks like Ill have to make a trip to the AT&T store for an upgrade. We dont get a cell signal where we live here in hill country so I just couldnt see spending several hundred dollars for a phone. The phones just for when we go out.”
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