According to three sources, Microsoft has proposed that it aims to expand the price difference between office products sold by its chat and video app teams, while software sold without the app is avoiding possible EU antitrust fines .
The U.S. tech giant’s move comes five years after Salesforce-owned Slack complained to the European Commission about Microsoft’s contact with the office. In 2023, German rival Alfaview filed a similar complaint against the EU Watchdog.
The team added to Office 365 for free in 2017 and eventually replaced Skype’s business, becoming popular for its video conferencing during the pandemic.
Offices with more expensive teams can help competitors deliver products at competitive prices and lure users toward them.
Microsoft has bundled its team from the office in 2023, selling for 2 euros (about 178 rupees) in sales offices, less than the office than the video app. It said the independent team will be sold for €5 per month (about Rs 446).
The committee asked some companies to provide feedback until this week decide whether to conduct formal market testing and respond this week. All three of them knew this directly.
They said Microsoft also offers better interoperability clauses to make it easier for competitors to compete.
Executors of EU competition and Microsoft fined €2.2 billion (USD 2.3 billion or about Rs 18,06,82 crore) in EU antitrust to fine or tie two or more products together , declined to comment. EU fines can reach 10% of the company’s global annual revenue.
If the committee does accept Microsoft’s proposal without fines or finds wrongdoing, it will free up human and resources to investigate Apple and Google, one of the sources said.
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