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Huawei fails to get AT&T to sell its phones in the US

Huawei and Xiaomi have both been negotiating with carriers to bring their popular phones to the US market

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A crew hangs a Huawei advertising banner on the side of the Las Vegas Convention Centre as workers prepare for the 2018 CES in Las Vegas this week. Photo: Reuters
Bloomberg
Huawei Technologies has failed to strike a deal for AT&T to sell its flagship phones to American consumers, a setback for China’s top mobile-phone maker, which was expected to unveil a partnership with a US carrier as early as this week, according to people familiar with the matter.

Even without an immediate partner that would help it officially enter the US market, Huawei will still sell a version of its new Mate 10 Pro smartphone that is unlocked and not tied to a specific carrier, according to a person familiar with the company, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters.

Huawei and Xiaomi, another leading Chinese handset maker, have both been negotiating with carriers including AT&T and Verizon Communications to bring their popular phones to the US market, people familiar with the companies said last month.
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Workers set up a display at the Huawei booth at the Las Vegas Convention Centre in preparation for the 2018 CES in Las Vegas. Photo: Reuters
Workers set up a display at the Huawei booth at the Las Vegas Convention Centre in preparation for the 2018 CES in Las Vegas. Photo: Reuters

The US mobile-phone market is dominated by Apple and Samsung. Since most phones are bought through carriers, it’s almost impossible for a manufacturer to gain serious market share without support from AT&T or Verizon, the two largest US wireless networks.

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“Over the past five years Huawei has proven itself by delivering premium devices with integrity globally and in the US market,” a spokesman for Huawei told Bloomberg News on Monday.

“On Tuesday Huawei will introduce new products to the US market, including availability. We look forward to sharing more information with you then.”

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