Microsoft unbundles Teams from Office suite globally amid antitrust investigations

Microsoft is reportedly separating Microsoft Teams from Microsoft 365 Copilot globally amid an antitrust investigation (including the US), starting April 1, mirroring a similar unbundling in the EU in 2023 due to anticompetitive concerns. The separation is intended to provide clarity for customers and address the concerns of antitrust regulators. Existing customers will likely keep their current packages, while new customers can purchase Teams separately or opt for Office packages excluding Teams.

The standalone Teams will cost $5.25, and Office packages without Teams will range from $7.75 to $54.75. The first unbundling of Teams in the EU was in response to an investigation by the European Commission into Microsoft's bundling practices, stemming from a complaint by Slack in 2020 alleging anticompetitive behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This move by Microsoft follows the US Justice Department's lawsuit against Apple for antitrust violations, underscoring the growing regulatory scrutiny on tech giants. The outcome could significantly impact Microsoft and the wider tech industry as regulators aim to address market competition and monopolistic concerns.