Microsoft has proposed to sell Office 365 and Microsoft 365 without Teams to customers in the European Union at a lower price, as part of a broader effort to address antitrust concerns raised by competitors.
The move is in response to a 2020 complaint filed by Slack Technologies, now owned by Salesforce, alleging that Microsoft’s bundling of Teams with its Office suite gave it an unfair advantage in the corporate communications market.
According to the European Commission, which is reviewing the proposal, Microsoft’s offer includes:
- A reduced-price option for Office and Microsoft 365 without Teams.
- Greater interoperability between Microsoft apps and competing software platforms.
- Technical tools and documentation to allow rivals to better integrate with Office services.
- The ability for users to extract and migrate Teams messaging data to competing platforms.
Microsoft says the proposal is designed to fully address the EU’s concerns while still meeting customer needs. “This resolution reflects our commitment to support a competitive environment in Europe,” said Nanna-Louise Linde, Microsoft’s VP for European Government Affairs.
The company’s pricing changes would last seven years, while its interoperability commitments would remain in effect for ten years.
This proposal marks a significant shift in Microsoft’s approach and could reshape the business software market in Europe, offering a more level playing field for competitors like Slack and Zoom.
The European Commission is currently seeking feedback from customers and rivals before making a final decision.