Following the stink raised by competing collaboration software Slack to the European Union in 2020, Microsoft has agreed to cease mechanically bundling Groups with its workplace software program.
Per the Financial Times (opens in new tab) (paywall), the transfer is an try to flee what can be the corporate’s first antitrust investigation in over a decade.
Nonetheless, Slack, now owned by CRM software program supplier Salesforce, is pushing for even additional motion, and a ruling that Microsoft Groups and Workplace have to be offered individually.
Microsoft vs the EU
Collaboration and video conferencing software program has develop into a persistently profitable enterprise for the reason that begin of the Covid-19 pandemic. Whereas names akin to Groups, Slack and Zoom have been round for a while earlier than, it’s solely now that they’ve arguably develop into family names.
It’s not stunning then that Slack feels prefer it’s lacking its share of the pie, however this already protracted authorized battle with the EU’s government arm, the European Fee (EC), is ready to proceed, with a press release from Microsoft despatched to the FT claiming that talks are nonetheless in progress.
“We’re conscious of our duties within the EU as a serious know-how firm,” stated a consultant for the tech big. “We proceed to interact cooperatively with the fee in its investigation and are open to pragmatic options that deal with its considerations and serve clients nicely.”
Microsoft has seen hassle like this earlier than when, in 2008, it bundled its Web Explorer browser with Home windows. Below scrutiny, it started providing a alternative of browsers to customers, however was fined €561 million by the EU for going again on its phrase. So, historical past could be about to repeat itself.
Through The Verge (opens in new tab)