EU says Microsoft Teams is anti-competitive

In Short: The European Commission has charged Microsoft with anti-competitive behavior for bundling its Teams app with its Office suite, a move that allegedly harms rivals like Slack and Zoom.

What's Going On?

Brussels has taken a big swing at Microsoft, accusing the tech giant of unfairly bundling its Teams app with the popular Office suite. This isn't just a small spat; it's the most significant antitrust charge against Microsoft in over a decade. The European Commission claims this bundling gives Teams an "undue advantage" over competitors like Slack and Zoom, potentially squeezing them out of the market.

The charges echo a familiar tune for Microsoft, which faced similar allegations about two decades ago over its bundling practices with Windows. Despite Microsoft's attempts to mollify regulators by proposing to unbundle Teams from Office in Europe, Brussels isn't convinced these moves go far enough to ensure a level playing field.

What Does This Mean?