- Microsoft eliminates the equipment for a discount of € 2, option to add it for € 5
- More should be done to improve software interoperability
- Rivals and customers seem happy with the solution
Microsoft is ready to avoid a large antimonopoly fine after the European Union accepted its offer to disagree the team videoconference platform, which means that the equipment must now be sold separately from the licenses of Office 365 and Microsoft 365.
The conditions stipulate that Microsoft must sell packages without equipment for less to reflect the elimination of its online collaboration software.
Microsoft must also do more to improve the interoperability of its software with rivals in an attempt to avoid the blocking of the supplier.
Microsoft is configured to unravel equipment after the European battle
The imminent agreement occurs after a battle of years in Europe: the case comes from a complaint of 2020 from Slack. Despite Europe’s efforts to reach agreements instead of issuing fines, they have not come without their fair share of scrutiny.
The White House has already criticized Europe’s alleged control over US technology companies.
Bloomberg He points out that rivals and customers have not raised a great concern after the proposal to displease the teams from the rest of the Microsoft package, which suggests that this could be the final step required to rule out the complaint.
Previously, during the timeline of the complaint, we already saw Microsoft and its rivals open part of the bureaucracy to improve interoperability between its platforms.
A year ago, Microsoft president Brad Smith said: “In the teams, we have done a lot of work, our work has not yet done. Microsoft is committed to finding a resolution to regulators’ concerns.”
Smith also admitted that Microsoft hoped to have to take “additional steps” to appease regulators.
Microsoft shared details of their prices without equipment in 2023, confirming that the packages would cost € 2/month or € 24/year less in the EEE and Switzerland. However, the equipment would be available as an independent package for € 5/month or € 60/year, resulting in a higher total cost and makes Europe’s decision largely ineffective.
Techradar Pro He contacted the European Commission and Microsoft to obtain more clarifications on the steps to follow and the details about prices, but we do not receive an immediate response.
