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Some Chinese firms gifting HUAWEI phones to employees to show solidarity
- Chinese smartphone manufacturer HUAWEI has had a rough few months for various reasons.
- To show solidarity, other Chinese companies are giving employees incentives for buying HUAWEI devices — or just giving them one.
- Some companies are light-hearted with their attempts, while others are almost militant about it.
Today, via Nikkei Asian Review, we learned there are many Chinese companies giving employees incentives for buying Huawei products. Some companies are going as far as to simply give their employees HUAWEI smartphones.
The incentives are part of a broader initiative of showing support for HUAWEI, one of China’s biggest firms. Unfortunately, HUAWEI hasn’t had the best year, and these fellow Chinese companies — ranging from tech sector organizations to breweries — are unifying to show their support.
Most of the companies are simply encouraging their employees to buy HUAWEI stuff. For example, display equipment maker Shenzhen Yidaheng Technology will cover 18 percent of the price for HUAWEI products while communications service company Fuchun Technology is giving each of its 200 employees who buy a HUAWEI smartphone before the end of 2018 a cash bonus of between 100 and 500 yuan (~$14.50 to ~$72.50).
On the most generous end of the spectrum, electronics maker Shanghai Youluoke Electronic and Technology is fully subsidizing up to two HUAWEI smartphones per employee, which essentially means free smartphones for everyone.
And, on the unconventional end of the spectrum, a brewery in Henan Province will offer both employees and customers who present their receipt for a HUAWEI device free alcohol worth 30 percent of that purchase. Not bad.
However, some companies are taking things a little too far. A machinery company in Shenzhen threatened to confiscate Apple devices from employees and fire those who did not comply. Shenzhen Yidaheng Technology said it would fine employees who bought iPhones the equivalent amount of that device.
Most companies are having fun with their support, but others are taking things a little too far.
Why these companies are specifically targeting Apple and not other HUAWEI competitors isn’t clear. However, it likely has to do with the fact that Apple is a company based out of the United States, whereas other major competitors — such as Samsung, LG, and Sony — are not.
Many of HUAWEI’s recent troubles stem from problems with the United States. The U.S. government has placed bans on HUAWEI products and is encouraging other countries to do the same. So far, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and France have all either banned or are rumored to eventually ban some or all HUAWEI products.
The antagonism towards HUAWEI is due to the perceived security concerns the company presents. It’s alleged that the company has deep ties to the Chinese government and possibly installs “backdoors” in its products which allegedly could allow Chinese officials to spy on other nations. HUAWEI denies the validity of these claims.
NEXT: HUAWEI poised to spend billions to fix its bad security reputation