- Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) will likely face an EU antitrust investigation as regulators intensify their scrutiny of its practices in a case triggered by Salesforce.com Inc's (NYSE:CRM) workspace messaging app Slack, Reuters reports.
- In 2021, Slack alleged to the European Commission that Microsoft had unfairly integrated its workplace chat and video app Teams into its Office product.
- Microsoft launched Teams in 2017, seeking a slice of the fast-growing and lucrative workplace collaboration market.
- Also Read: Microsoft Battled Barrage Of EU Antitrust Complaints; From Unfair Licensing Practices To Activision Blizzard Acquisition
- Slack urged the EU competition enforcer to order the U.S. software giant to separate Teams from the Office Suit and sell it separately at fair commercial prices.
- This October, the Commission sent out another batch of questionnaires in a follow-up to those sent out in October 2021.
- The Commission examined Microsoft's interoperability and bundling in more detail this time. They searched for information that allowed them to define remedies.
- The report further noted the Commission reportedly prepared the ground for an investigation.
- Microsoft has been fined €2.2 billion ($2.3 billion) for cases involving so-called tying and other practices in the previous decade.
- Price Action: MSFT shares closed higher by 1.04% at $247.58 on Wednesday.
