Facebook and Intel withdraw from MWC tech show amid Coronavirus Threat

Facebook and Intel have withdrawn from the MWC tech show in Barcelona amid concerns about coronavirus. As per reports, the trade body ‘GSMA’ that organizes MWC will meet to decide whether they need to completely cancel the event or not.

GSMA has not commented on “internal meetings”. Companies including Amazon, Sony, LG Electronics, ZTE, Ericsson and US chip company Nvidia have already withdrawn. Facebook has also pulled out saying that “evolving public health risks” were behind its decision.

As per an anonymous source, today will be “a decisive day” for other firms contemplating withdrawal. Annually over 100,000 people usually attend Mobile World Congress. Thousands of firms exhibit while around 6000 travel from China.

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Intel has also withdrawn saying, “The safety and wellbeing of all our employees and partners is our top priority, and we have withdrawn from this year’s Mobile World Congress out of an abundance of caution.”

Huawei says that it is still planning to go, however, it is reviewing the situation “on a daily basis”. Vivo, the Chinese smartphone maker was launching its product range in the UK market at MWC 2020, however, the company has withdrawn explaining that, “the health and safety of our employees and the public are our top priority”.

TCL has canceled its global press event however it would offer “private pre-briefings” and would still exhibit at the trade fair. Companies including Royole, FlexPai, McAfee have dropped out while Google and Microsoft are still on board.

Also read: Tech Giants Sony And Amazon To Back Off From MWC 2020 Barcelona