Microsoft Responds to Antitrust Concerns, Offers Office Without Teams Worldwide
In response to antitrust concerns and ongoing investigations, Microsoft has announced that it will no longer bundle its Teams collaboration software with its Office 365 suite anywhere in the world.
The decision to separate Teams from Office extends a previous announcement made last year, which initially applied only to the European Union. This move comes after complaints from competitors such as Salesforce’s Slack in 2020, alleging that Microsoft’s bundling practices were anti-competitive.
The complaint from Slack prompted an antitrust investigation by the European Commission into Microsoft’s practices, which is still ongoing.
Microsoft’s latest announcement aims to address some of these concerns by allowing customers worldwide to purchase Office software without including Teams. Additionally, customers will now have the option to purchase Teams as a standalone product tailored for business use.
A Microsoft spokesperson emphasized that this decision aims to provide clarity for customers and address feedback from the European Commission. By unbundling Teams from Office globally, Microsoft aims to offer multinational companies greater flexibility in their purchasing decisions, especially when standardizing across different geographical regions.
The move reflects Microsoft’s commitment to navigating antitrust regulations and ensuring fair competition in the software market.
