2025-05-16 16:11
publication
2025-05-16 16:11
The American concern Microsoft offered the European Commission that its Office package without the Teams application will be cheaper than sold with this application. This is the company's reactions to the threat of a penalty from Brussels.
The EC will ask for the company and clients' competitors before deciding whether to accept the concern's offer. Reuters informed the fact that such a proposal went to the EC at the beginning of this week.
The case has its roots in 2020, when the manufacturer of the SLACK online messenger filed a complaint to the EC at Microsoft, in which he accused the concern with breaking EU regulations regarding competition. In his opinion, Microsoft forced customers to install Teams application through its default integration with the Office package. This was to hinder competitive messengers the fight for the client. Moreover, Office users did not have the opportunity to remove the Teams messenger, which, according to the applicant, is a violation of EU antitrust provisions.
If the EC was granted to the complaint, the American giant would be punishable by a huge financial penalty.
Microsoft Vice President Nanna-Louise Linde said, quoted by the Reuters agency, that the proposal is “a clear and complete solution to the fears reported by competitors and will give Europeans a greater selection.” The maximum price difference between two packages – from Teams and without this application – is expected to be 8 euros.
“We hope that (…) the European Commission will come to the conclusion that the proposed commitment is to respond to her fears and in the following months will make the final decision to close the investigation,” Linde added.
Microsoft is one of the largest and most recognizable technology companies in the world. It was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. The company is best known from the Windows operating system, which is used on most personal computers around the world.
Teams is her communication application that allows chatting, video conferences, sharing files and other online cooperation.
From Brussels Łukasz Osiński (PAP)
Luo/ AP/
