Huawei to launch mapping service for developers following Google ban

Huawei is to launch its own mapping service to offset the impact of the United States government's export restrictions that prevent the company from using Google's products and services.

The new mapping service was announced by Zhang Pingan, Huawei's president of consumer cloud services, at the Huawei Developer Conference on August 9.

Zhang Pingan, Huawei's president of consumer cloud services, at this year's Huawei Developer Conference in the city of Dongguan in Guangdong Province on Friday, August 9, 2019. [Photo: VCG]

The service, dubbed Map Kit, does not offer navigation guidance to customers. Instead, it is targeted at technicians doing application development. About half of all applications incorporate location-based services, said Zhang.

Map Kit, which is targeted exclusively at overseas developers, will provide developers with data on real-time traffic conditions and augmented-reality navigation services, as well as a precise location service.

The new mapping service is expected to promote innovation in the development of apps at overseas markets, and raise the value of the company's operating system Hong Meng, according to China Daily.

Map Kit will be connected to third-party mobile application and local navigation service providers across over 150 nations and regions, with versions to be available in 40 languages.

Huawei is working with the Russian Internet giant Yandex and the American online travel service provider Booking Holdings on Map Kit, reports China Daily.

In May, Google blocked Huawei's access to its proprietary Android apps and services, including the Google Play Store, Gmail, and YouTube.