India handles over the spyware inspection charge to Huwaei

By siliconindia   |   Thursday, 30 June 2011, 01:12 IST   |    3 Comments
Printer Print Email Email
Bangalore: The Government of India has given the inspection duty of imported Smartphone equipment for secret spyware to the tech giant Huawei. But is that a fair decision? Indian government is planning to team up with Huawei to inspect the Smartphones and communication devices for detecting malware and spyware. Huawei reportedly has tie up with the People's Liberation Army of China and the many wonder if it's a wise decision to give the contract to the company. Huawei has established its research lab at Bangalore's Indian institute of Science. The Indian Intelligence Service requested Huawei to open the research lab and the tender requires it to test all the imported mobile phones and all other equipments for built in spyware and malware. The lab will also be involved in the testing of Smartphone apps and software those are purchased for conventional mobile phones. Lack of home grown mobile providers with essential equipments to screen all technological devices imported into India, is a major drawback. Huawei is making efforts to lessen the fears spreading in the Indian media about the Bangalore lab that it's going to be a spy store. Chinese spyware in computers and mobile phones has always been a nightmare for Indian tech industry. Chinese mobiles were banned in India in April 2010, especially the Huawei's handsets. Still Huawei managed to sell $1.2 billion worth of handset in India last year as soon as ban was annulled after it gave its embedded source code.