Microsoft Unbundles Teams from Office Globally

Microsoft has made the decision to separate Teams from the Office suite worldwide, following antitrust scrutiny from the European Union. This move comes after unbundling Teams from Office in Europe last year, in response to complaints from competitors about unfair market advantage. The decision aims to provide more flexibility to customers and address concerns raised by the European Commission. Starting April 1, customers can choose to renew, update, or switch to new offers, including standalone Teams subscriptions for enterprise customers. Prices for Office products without Teams range from $7.75 to $54.75 for new commercial customers, while standalone Teams subscriptions will cost $5.25. The EU's antitrust investigation into Microsoft's bundling practices highlights concerns about market dominance and potential anti-competitive behavior. Despite Microsoft's efforts to address these concerns, fines of up to 10% of its global annual turnover could still be imposed. The move to unbundle Teams globally is seen as a proactive step by Microsoft to avoid potential fines and provide clarity to customers. The decision reflects a shift in the tech industry towards more transparency and customer choice.