Huawei showcases support among S'pore consumers who praise 'resilient and strong' company

SINGAPORE — “A force to be reckoned with”, “a resilient and strong company” and a firm whose innovations are driven by its “relentless attitude”.

These were among the upbeat quotes from Huawei consumers that the Chinese telco showcased in a statement on Monday (June 3), which it said told "a tale of solidarity and allegiance in a time of doubt".

Since Google suspended its business with the firm two weeks ago in the midst of an expanding trade and tech war between the United States and China, mobile phone shops in Singapore have stopped buying used Huawei phones from customers for fear they would not have resale value, and several shoppers have held off from buying Huawei phones until they get more clarity on how the tensions will unfold.

But the telco sought to dispel these worries with its statement on Monday, headlined “Singaporean consumers rally behind Huawei” and featuring positive comments from seven local Huawei phone users who had visited the company’s booth at The PC Show this past weekend.

Among them were 46-year-old Joe Lum who said: “I would still buy the phone in a heartbeat because its cameras are amazing for a photography enthusiast like myself.”

Another was “long-time supporter” Daniel Lim, 31, who was quoted as saying: “There are no other phones that are in the same league as Huawei given its solid hardware. Its innovations are driven by the company’s relentless attitude and I believe that it’s a brand that is here to stay no matter the ongoing challenges.”

Also featured was Ms Wen Qi, whose age was not revealed, who said: “Huawei is such a big company and I am sure they will be able to overcome any challenges they face.”

Echoing her sentiments was Ms Wei Ling, 31, who was quoted as saying: “I believe Huawei will be able to come up with a solution given their strong roots in the technology sector.”

In the statement, Huawei itself says that the company has become “more than just a brand name” as its “values of resilience and tenacity” have gained respect among customers.

“The company is dedicated to create meaningful products and technologies whilst putting customers at the centre of its business,” it said.

Last year, it noted, Huawei invested 14.1 per cent of its sales revenue in research and development (R&D), ranking fifth globally in the European Union Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard.

And in Singapore, it added, it has doubled its growth year-on-year and is expanding its services, including Service Day, held on the first weekend of every month, to provide after-sales care for customers.

A spokesperson from Huawei thanked the firm’s customers for their support, saying: “The backbone of our success over the years has always been our customers who support the brand and believe in the innovations we offer.”

While fans of the firm’s mobile phones may not have not wavered in their support, the South China Morning Post reported on Saturday that Huawei is reassessing its target to overtake Samsung and become the world’s top-selling smartphone vendor before the end of 2020.

Mr Zhao Ming, the president of Honor, one of Huawei’s smartphone brands, said at a media briefing in Shanghai on Friday that the telco is closely observing and evaluating the situation after the US government barred American companies from doing business with it.