Huawei can continue to send software updates to phones for three months, according to the United States

Huawei will be able to continue to send software updates on its phones for the next three months, despite an effective ban on sales to the United States, after receiving a temporary license from the US Department of Commerce.

Reuters reported for the first time on the license, due to expire on August 19.

The license, in effect today, allows Huawei to take the steps "necessary to provide service and support, including software updates or patches, to existing Huawei handsets that were available to the public on a monthly basis. May 16, 2019 or earlier. The license will also allow Huawei to maintain its existing network equipment and receive information on security vulnerabilities.

Last week, the Trump administration declared a national emergency that allowed the Secretary of Commerce to block technological transactions that were considered national security risks. Shortly after, the administration effectively put Huawei on the blacklist, forbidding any US company to do business with the Chinese telecommunications giant without the US government's authorization.

Google has quickly announced that it will no longer provide Android services for Huawei devices, although the company may continue to use an open source version. Google added that services would also be maintained on existing Huawei devices.

"The temporary general license gives operators the time needed to make other arrangements and the latitude of the department to determine appropriate long-term measures for US and foreign telecommunications providers currently using Huawei equipment for critical services." said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in a statement. "In short, this license will allow business to continue for Huawei mobile phone users and existing rural broadband networks."

The repression of the Trump administration, which has been waiting for about a year, has upset Huawei's global outlook. But after the ban on Android, the company announced in an announcement that it would continue to provide updates for devices already in the hands of customers. "We will continue to build a secure and sustainable software ecosystem to provide the best possible experience for all users in the world," the company said.

Update May 20 at 18:53 ET: Addition of the statement of the Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross.