Huawei, barred in US, offers app inducements in Europe

Blacklisted in the United States, Chinese telecoms group Huawei is on a charm offensive at Europe’s biggest tech gathering, wooing app developers to embrace its own operating ecosystem. Having this week announced plans to spend $40 billion on European supplies, after being shut out of buying US-made chips and technology, the company has been a prominent player at the Web Summit in Portugal.

Never mind US allegations that its products — especially in 5G networking — offer back-door access for Chinese spies: Huawei’s stand has pride of place at the pavilion entrance and its current chairman, Guo Ping, gave the keynote address during Monday’s opening night.