Microsoft Vulnerable To EU Antitrust Probe, Triggered By Salesforce: Report

• 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.

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