The sheer scale of Microsoft Teams dominance could mean big trouble
Could this be the end of the Microsoft Teams golden era?
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Microsoftcould be set to face a probe into supposed unfair practices that give it a helping hand in theoffice softwarespace.
Reuterssays an EU antitrust investigation could focus on the fact that thevideo conferencingservice is bundled in with the Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) suite, which includes apps like Word, Excel, and OneDrivecloud storage.
This so-called unfair integration was highlighted by Slack, another big player in theonline collaborationspace - which is likely suffering as a result of theMicrosoft 365pricing model.
Teams vs Slack
Slack currently costs from $7.25 (£5.75) per user per month on an annual contract, offering full chat support, video conferencing and voice call support.
Microsoft’s cheapest business plan costs from $6 (£4.50) per month, annually, and includes Teams, 1TB of cloud storage, and web versions of its major apps. A subscription with full desktop clients costs from $12 (£7.90) per month.
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Reuters says Slack has urged the EU competition enforcer to require that Microsoft sells its Teams platform separately, outside of the Microsoft 365 suite, which would promote better competition from the likes of Slack, Zoom, andGoogleWorkspace.
The European Commission has reportedly sent out more questionnaires after a batch sent out last October, which some people believe could be the start of an investigation into the company’s practices.
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Microsoft is currently working on a premium version of Teams that will see the introduction of things like AI transcription in 40 different languages and more advanced security features. It’s set to arrive in Q1 2023, but for now, at least, this won’t stop the standard version of Teams remaining part of the broader 365 package.
TechRadar Prohas asked Microsoft for a comment - any responses will be updated here.
With several years’ experience freelancing in tech and automotive circles, Craig’s specific interests lie in technology that is designed to better our lives, including AI and ML, productivity aids, and smart fitness. He is also passionate about cars and the decarbonisation of personal transportation. As an avid bargain-hunter, you can be sure that any deal Craig finds is top value!
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