A few days back, news broke out that Xiaomi is blocking users from installing GMS (Google Mobile Services) on its devices running MIUI China ROM. To this, the company has now issued an official statement.

Xiaomi posted an image on Weibo via its ‘Xiaomi Company Spokesperson’ account. This image includes a total of four points

The first one says that the information regarding GMS on Xiaomi phones was shared by an unofficial Xiaomi Community group. Whereas, in the second one, the company denies that it is blocking GMS installation and calls this news a ‘rumor’.

However, the firm’s third point contradicts the first two. In this, the company notes that the GMS framework, which is required for GMS apps comes pre-installed on certain smartphones sold in China. But it will be not the case in the future. 

Hence, users will not be able to install GMS on their phones (from the app store) themselves without the required framework. Anyway, Xiaomi does say that it will be shipping select handsets with the GMS framework based on demand.

Looks like instead of ‘future’, the Chinese smartphone maker has already removed the framework with the latest MIUI update on some of its models. Therefore, we think that with multiple users reporting on the issue, the unofficial Xiaomi Community Group brought this news to a wider public.

Lastly, the fourth point confirms that international models are not affected. Thus, Xiaomi’s global customers need not worry about GMS on their smartphones.

So who all are affected by this change? First and foremost, people who import Xiaomi handsets from China. These users will no be able to install GMS on their device if it does not come with the required framework. Secondly, Chinese citizens who want to try out GMS.

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The post Xiaomi confirms no GMS framework for future phones running MIUI China ROM appeared first on Gizmochina.

Xiaomi‘s MIUI custom ROM is one of the few Android-based custom skin that is available in more than two versions. OnePlus also releases more than one Custom ROM versions. There is the Hydrogen OS for China and Oxygen OS for the global market. While Xiaomi’s MIUI is available in China and Global ROM with subcategories like Developer and Stable ROM in both versions. There are indications that Mi phones manufactured specifically for the Chinese market won’t be able to run MIUI Global ROM and vice versa.

Until recently when the company started expanding rapidly into new markets like India, Indonesia, Spain, Russia and others, most Xiaomi phones sold outside China run MIUI China ROM. Since Google services are banned in China, manufacturers usually remove them before shipping. Millions of Mi phones sold outside China were sold by third-party retailers who re-install Google frameworks and apps. Users then sometimes flash the China ROM to install the Global ROM themselves so as to get regular updates. That practice still continues even till now when Xiaomi phones are sold by Xiaomi or through authorized agents in most regions. Perhaps, the latest move is to discourage such. The information as shared on MIUI forum stated clearly that;

1. Xiaomi Phones manufactured for (the) Chinese market are not able to run MIUI Global ROM.
2. Xiaomi Phones manufactured for Global markets are not able to run MIUI China ROM.

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The official statement then recommended that buyers should purchase Xiaomi phones via official or authorized sales channels. In addition, users should double check the system information before flashing or updating. The ultimate result of not verifying could be bricking of the smartphone. There could be a way around this by first unlocking the phone’s bootloader before flashing, but we can’t confirm if flashing across both China and Global ROMs will work with an unlocked bootloader.

(source)

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