Just who are Huawei - and what’s their claim on UK 4G?

The launch of 4G in the UK has seen all the usual names thrown around. But while most of the technology headlines will go to manufacturers like Apple and Samsung, there is another handset maker that has been a big fixture in the launch of EE’s new 4G network.

The Huawei Ascend P1 LTE is just one ofthe devices in the company’s offering, offering an affordable way for people to take advantage of 4G. But the brand can also be found adorning the front of EE’s 4G mobile broadband dongles. So who is this tech firm and should you consider them as a smartphone, hub and dongle alternative to one of the bigger names?

Well, Huawei is a Chinese telecommunications firm that has been growing rapidly over the last few years. It’s one of the world’s biggest gadget makers and makes a wide range of unbranded products like modems, set-top boxes and handsets. However, it is also responsible for a number of devices that have made it on to the British scene like the Ascend P1 and G 300.

So, is the 4G-enabled p1 worth your attention? Well, behind that 4.3-inch Super AMOLED capacitive Gorilla Glass touch screen, there is full HD video, Dolby Mobile sound and a high-quality 8-megapixel camera all running on the Google Android Icecream Sandwich 4.0 operating system. 

In August, Gary Cutlack ofTechRadar said that while it was clearly made for the slightly more budget-friendly market, it was “a seriously enjoyable and powerful phone”. All in all, it seems to have made a pretty solid impact on the smartphone scene.

So what about the other gizmos? Well if you do happen to sign up for EE’s 4G mobile broadband offering you can expect to be sent out a Huawei E589 Mobile Wi-Fidongle to get yourself online. EE is currently offering 18 month plans which start at £15.99 a month and is claiming that in connected areas this will give you speeds of up to five times that of 3G. Of course, if it is hoping to convince the UK that it needs access to this next generation mobile network, it must have confidence in the manufacturer that is providing its peripherals. So it seems fair to assume this is one of the best products around to surf at speeds of up to five times the current 3G speed.

It seems unlikely that Huawei will be toppling the likes of Apple and Samsung any time soon when it comes to gadget desirability, but it’s clear that the Chinese company is keen to make an impact on the British 4G market.