Huawei keeps trying to push its smartphones in the United States and hitting walls, and Best Buy is the latest one to back out.
Various carriers have already decided that they will no longer be offering Huawei smartphones, amid mounting political pressure and concerns. As it turns out, Best Buy is reportedly dropping Huawei phones as well, according to a new report.
Best Buy To Stop Selling Huawei Phones
As CNET reports, citing an unnamed source familiar with the matter, Best Buy has ceased ordering new smartphones from Huawei, and in a few weeks it will phase out whatever Huawei stock it currently has. CNET says that Best Buy made this decision, albeit the retailer has yet to offer a statement on this matter.
A Best Buy spokesperson declined to comment on these claims, noting only that the retailer is changing its product portfolio for a variety of reasons.
Why Is Huawei Hitting Walls In The US?
While nothing is officially confirmed, various reports recently indicated that AT&T and Verizon have decided to drop Huawei phones because they were under increasing pressure from the U.S. government, which suspects that China might be using Huawei phones to spy.
As the relations between the United States and China are tense, and the U.S. government is concerned about spying and cyber attacks, some Chinese device makers are taking the heat. Huawei seems to be one of them.
Best Buy might have been facing similar pressure as carriers from the U.S. government regarding Huawei phones. Rather than risking tense relationships with the government or risk compromising national security, the retailer might have found it easier to just stop selling Huawei phones altogether and eliminate the threat.
On the other hand, with no confirmation that the U.S. government is militating against Huawei phones, Best Buy's decision to phase out Huawei devices could simply be business-oriented, related to profits.
Huawei, on its part, has repeatedly declared that it has no ties to the Chinese government and does not do any spying on behalf of China. The device maker stated that it has proved to partners worldwide that it can be trusted.
Even if Best Buy is phasing out Huawei phones and won't be ordering any more, consumers can still purchase Huawei phones in the United States via various other retailers, including Amazon, Newegg, and B&H. Nevertheless, losing Best Buy as a partner would still deal a blow to Huawei.
