Despite Microsoft’s efforts, Teams remains in the sights of the European Union


Samir Rahmoune

November 30, 2023 at 2:48 p.m.

3

Microsoft Teams © © Mika Baumeister / Unsplash

Teams software displayed on a smartphone © Mika Baumeister / Unsplash

The European Commission continues its investigations into the integration of Teams following Microsoft 365.

Teams has been the subject of various attacks for several years now. Some people, like a French MP, point out the problems that its use can pose regarding data confidentiality. Others, more numerous, criticize its integration into the Microsoft 365 suite, which would give it an unfair advantage over its customers.

This is the case of Slack, which filed a complaint in 2020, which led to the launch of an investigation last July by the European Commission. An investigation which reaches a new stage this week!

The continuation of a long file

Brussels is determined to find out if Microsoft violated antitrust rules by adding Teams to its Microsoft 365 suite. According to Reutersthe European Commission sent a questionnaire this week to the American giant’s competitors to obtain their opinion on the subject.

This initiative shows that the answers and solutions proposed by Microsoft are not enough for the moment. The firm founded by Bill Gates is accused by companies like Slack of “ hide the real cost » from Teams to its customers by merging it with its other software.

European Union: the end of tax havens?  © 77studio/Getty Images

The European Union is still investigating © 77studio/Getty Images

Microsoft does not convince

It is for this reason that Microsoft has proposed a new formula allowing you to obtain Microsoft 365 without Teams, by reducing the price of the monthly subscription by 2 euros. Teams, for its part, is planned to be sold alone to new customers at a price of 5 euros per month. But apparently not enough to convince Brussels.

In its questionnaire, the European Commission, according to Reutersasked competitors to provide feedback from potential customers on how their services could work in tandem with Microsoft’s services, pricing of products with and without Teams, and eligibility criteria. » Questions were also asked about possible barriers to entry and the possibilities of easily switching to a competing solution.

Source : Neowin



Source link -99