Huawei expands music, video and ebook platforms to more countries

After launching the Google-less P40, Huawei hopes to lure users with more content

Reading Time:1 minute

Why you can trust SCMP

Huawei introduced the P40 series of phones this week and said that its HMS ecosystem is filling up with more apps and services. (Picture: Huawei)

Masha Borak

Published: 7:42pm, 27 Mar 2020

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

After the global launch of the P40 series of smartphones, Huawei is rolling out Huawei Music, Huawei Video and Huawei Reader to more markets. They’re meant to give a boost to the Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) ecosystem and the company’s app marketplace AppGallery, which Huawei is reliant on in the absence of Google apps and services.

For now, Huawei Video is available in 11 European countries as well as another 15 countries and regions around the world. The platform is partnering with BBC to bring a news category to users in 20 countries and plans to offer BBC TV shows and documentaries in the future. The free version of Huawei Music is already available in more than 90 countries, but it recently started offering a paid tier in 16 European countries for 9.99 euros (US$11) a month and is planning to add more. Huawei Reader, an ebook app, is currently available in China, Spain and Malaysia.

Despite some impressive specs for the new P40 phones, they could still be a hard sell without any Google apps or services. To try to solve its app dilemma, Huawei has also been courting local app makers and searching for replacements. Huawei says HMS is now being used by 400 million users in 170 countries and regions, but it’s unknown just how many of those users are outside China.

Purchase the China AI Report 2020 brought to you by SCMP Research and enjoy a 20% discount (original price US$400). This 60-page all new intelligence report gives you first-hand insights and analysis into the latest industry developments and intelligence about China AI. Get exclusive access to our webinars for continuous learning, and interact with China AI executives in live Q&A. Offer valid until 31 March 2020.