In a questionnaire sent to rivals and seen by Reuters, the
European Commission is focusing on the period 2016 to 2021. Microsoft
introduced Teams in early 2017 to compete with Slack and others in the
fast-growing workplace collaboration market.
Slack, bought by business software maker Salesforce.com in
July, took its grievance over Microsoft's Teams software to the Commission last
year.
Microsoft, which has been handed EUR 2.2 billion ($2.6
billion) in EU fines for cases involving so-called tying and other practices in
previous decade, declined to comment.
Slack alleged that tying or bundling Teams with Office was
illegal and urged the EU competition agency to separate the two.
It said Microsoft pre-installs the workplace chat, it was
difficult to uninstall and that the US company refused to provide information
which would allow rival products to work with Teams and Office.
This has prompted the Commission to ask if bundled products
give companies access to data that may increase their market power in both
markets and at the same time make it harder for rivals, in particular those
with only product, to compete.
It has also asked about barriers to entry or expansion in
the workplace apps market, switching costs for customers and the importance of
user data protection.
Rivals were asked for a list of customers who have switched
to Microsoft Teams or its bundled Office, the percentage of revenue they had
lost as a result, as well as the impact of the integrated products on their
investments in innovation and the quality and price of their products.
The questionnaire asked if the COVID-19 had boosted demand
for workplace apps and how this will evolve post-pandemic.
Other companies which provide workplace apps include Zoom
Video Communications, Alphabet's Google, Facebook, and Cisco. -Reuters