Google cancels annual developer conference over coronavirus concerns

Alphabet Inc. said on Tuesday it has canceled its annual developer event, Google I/O, for concerns related to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

"Over the coming weeks, we will explore other ways to evolve Google I/O to best connect with and continue to build our developer community," the company said.

The event was scheduled to take place between May 12 and 14 and is Google's most important event of the year, where it highlights new services and products.

The company said on Monday it would move its annual cloud conference online.

Google becomes the second FAANG member after Facebook Inc. to cancel its conference as the virus spreads globally.

Microsoft has also decided to shift its MVP Global Summit from the cities of Bellevue and Redmond to "an online-only/virtual event" on March 16-19, said the company.

Earlier in February, Mobile World Congress, the world's largest mobile tech show, was canceled for this year. It has become the first technology event called off in 2020 due to the epidemic. The event was slated to take place between February 24 and 27 in Barcelona.

Over 10,000 confirmed cases of the disease have been reported outside China so far.

(With input from Reuters)