Android is closely associated with Google and related services. However, initially the system is open and not tied to anyone’s applications. That is why there are models promoted without Google services. Volla Phone, PinePhone and, for example, NitroPhone immediately come to mind – there is a separate material about them on the Treshbox. However, the examples given are single models for geeks from small companies or startups that do not offer comparable replacement services.
Huawei in this sense is kept apart. The company has been releasing smartphones and tablets without Google Play for several years now, but in return it develops its own ecosystem, surrounds the user with everything necessary and attracts developers to its own application store. That is why the article will disassemble HMS (Huawei Mobile Services), as the most advanced alternative to Google in the Android world.
Contacts and SMS are also synchronized through Google. You have to think about them separately.
Setting up a new phone begins by entering an account. It is in it that contacts, calendar entries, call log, SMS and other small information like a list of saved Wi-Fi points are stored. In case of refusal from Google, it is worth thinking about their transfer in advance. The same contacts, for example, can be exported to a file or temporarily transferred to the SIM.
Huawei solved this issue with the Phone Clone app. It is available on Android and iOS, both on Google Play and the App Store. When transferring information from an Android device, Phone Clone will copy not only basic information, but also specific system settings – alarms, wallpapers, passwords, and even data applications. Looking ahead, programs that are not in the AppGallery will not be transferred, but more on this nuance later.
All familiar services urgently need to look for a replacement (at least for me)
The first setting is done, we are on the main screen and do not immediately count the shortcuts. Drive cloud storage, Keep notes, Gmail, Chrome browser, Photos photo sync, maps, documents and YouTube video service – these and other applications of the search giant are not available outside the ecosystem. They can be accessed through a browser, but this is too big a compromise: the interface is not as convenient, notifications do not work as well, and the degree of integration into the system is not the same.
Fortunately, any Google service has powerful alternatives, including free ones. Huawei itself offers something, Russian search giants have a complete set of applications, and there are independent developers. You need to approach the selection with all responsibility. If there is a task to pick up new notes, I recommend installing and trying out a couple of applications at once, use them in parallel for several days, and then make an informed choice. After all, after that you will have to manually transfer all your data, it will take a lot of time – this is the price of an error.
Personally, I faced constant discomfort due to the destruction of familiar use cases. Modern services are not limited to a smartphone, one way or another you have to access them from a computer. It is quite difficult to retrain yourself to open not Google Drive, but conditional Yandex.Disk, or not Google Keep, but Evernote. And with similar functionality, two different services will differ in nuances, which can become a stumbling block.
Third-party app stores are already developed, but still far from Google Play
Google Play has all the applications except for a few blocked ones – this is the main platform for the distribution of Android software. Third-party stores, including AppGallery, are in the role of eternal catching up: some developers are reluctant to master a new platform, others completely ignore it for various reasons. Fortunately, most Russian developers are published in the Huawei store on an equal footing – the “Explore it on AppGallery” label has taken its place next to Google Play and the App Store.
In general, there is a noticeable dynamic development: AppGallery six months or a year ago and today are two different platforms in terms of content. The company invests in development, thanks to which the gaps are becoming smaller. For example, six months ago, AppGallery did not have Premier online cinema and BelkaCar car sharing – today they work great. Huawei makes a special bet on gamers: firstly, they attract popular studios, and secondly, they give bonuses for in-game purchases.
However, minor inconveniences still remain. I noticed several times the untimely publication of updates in the AppGallery. For example, while testing the P50 Pro, Yandex’s Navigator complained about an outdated version. By pressing the button, Google Play, which was not available on the smartphone, opened through the browser, and AppGallery did not know about the existence of the update at all at that time. I will also note the long-standing problem of Telegram. The messenger is published and updated in AppGallery, but the client is not decoupled from Google maps. As a result, the functionality associated with broadcasting geolocation does not work.
Installing an APK is sometimes not enough, many applications are linked to Google functionally
Missing applications can always be installed from an APK downloaded from a third-party resource. But here you need to be especially careful. Many forums and chats in messengers are known to distribute malicious files. This is especially true for pirated versions and modifications that promise unreasonable bonuses and benefits. Download software from proven resources!
However, many third-party applications use the infrastructure and service layers of GMS (Google Mobile Services). For example, their geolocation and maps, payments via Google Pay or other functionality. Such programs will not work on Huawei with HMS anyway.
Looking for a replacement for Google Pay
Perhaps what you definitely shouldn’t worry about is the lack of Google Pay. AppGallery has a Mir Pay payment service, which makes it possible to link a Mir card and pay with it contactlessly. Payment is as fast as through Google Pay, only Mir Pay also displays the purchase amount on the screen – conveniently. Sberbank and Tinkoff customers will find contactless payment services directly in their banking applications.
Discount cards can be stored in the “Wallet” service, it was created for these purposes. Some cards show their balance and the ability to withdraw bonuses. Some stores even allow you to register for the loyalty program directly in the application.
Do alternatives to Google have prospects?
Instead of a conclusion, I would like to share my own experience. In March 2021, I completely switched to Huawei without Google services. At that time, the AppGallery was empty, I frankly lacked applications, I could not install them separately from the APK because of the binding to GMS. That is why I was forced to return to Google after six months. Looking at the same ecosystem today, I see a huge qualitative leap. In addition, clear prospects for the further development of AppGallery in the Russian market have emerged. It seems to me that the Huawei ecosystem has reached the maturity at which it can be switched to by ordinary users who do not want to understand the nuances of Android.
Source: Trash Box
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
