Microsoft Team App for laptops arranged in New York, USA on Tuesday, June 25th, 2024.
Gabby Jones | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The European Union said on Friday it had accepted commitments from Microsoft Bundle your team’s workplace communications platform from popular productivity apps.
The decision essentially exempts Microsoft from receiving potentially large anti-trust fines last year after being accused by the European Commission (EU enforcement) of violating competition rules with “abusive” bundles of teams and office products.
“With today’s decision, we are committed to ending cohesive practices that could prevent rivals from competing effectively with their teams for over seven years,” said Teresa Rivera, Vice President of Transition for Clean, Fair and Competition, in a statement.
Under the commitment first announced by Microsoft in May, US software giants will be able to use versions of Office 365 and Microsoft 365 software suites at reduced prices without teams, allowing customers with long-term licenses to switch to suites without teams.
The company also provides interoperability between teams and competing tools with specific Microsoft products, allowing clients to move data from teams to competing products.
Microsoft then offered to make further commitments to resolve competitive concerns after the European Commission tested the company’s initial commitment.
They include increasing the price difference between the Microsoft 365 and Office 365 suites without teams, increasing the number of teams with teams by 50%, and making it clear that Microsoft websites promoting teams and suites will display corresponding offers without it.
“We appreciate the dialogue with the Committee that led to this agreement and aim to implement these new obligations promptly and fully,” Nanna Louise Linde, vice president of European government, said in a statement Friday.
The EU began an anti-trust investigation with Microsoft in July 2023. Salesforce– Owned Slack with rival chat services to teams. Slack was acquired by Salesforce in 2021 for $27.7 billion.
When contacted by CNBC, Slack could not immediately comment.
