The Redmond giant does not play with the European Union. Microsoft has decided to unlink Microsoft Teams from its Microsoft 365 suite. All this has arisen due to the pressure that Slack made at the time, claiming that it was going against the competition.
However, Microsoft has announced that it is unlinking Teams from Microsoft 365 in Europe, which means that users will be able to purchase Teams separatelywithout having to purchase the rest of the Microsoft 365 applications. This decision is due to pressure from the European Commission, which has accused Microsoft of abusing its dominant position in the business software market.
What does unlinking Teams from Microsoft 365 mean?
The unlinking of Teams from Microsoft 365 means European users will have more choice and flexibility in choosing the apps they need for their work. According to Microsoft, users will be able to purchase Teams as a standalone servicewith a monthly price per user, or as part of a customized package, with the applications of your choice.
Additionally, unlinking will also affect how Teams integrates with other apps. Until now, Teams integrated with Microsoft 365 apps by default, but not with apps from other providers. With unlinking, users will be able to choose which apps they want to integrate with Teams, whether they are from Microsoft or from third parties. For example, they will be able to use Teams with Google Docs or Slack.
What benefits will untying have for European users?
Unlinking Teams from Microsoft 365 will have several benefits for European users, especially those looking for a solution more tailored to their needs and preferences. Here are some of them:
- Saving: Untethering will allow users to save money by buying only the apps they need, without having to pay for a whole package that includes apps they don’t use.
- Competence: This move will encourage competition among enterprise software providers. Being able to improve the quality and innovation of the applications available in the market.
- Privacy: The disassociation will facilitate compliance with European data protection regulations. By allowing users to choose which apps they want to share their data with Teams and how they want to store it.
The decoupling of Teams from Microsoft 365 is a landmark move that will change the landscape of enterprise software in Europe. Interested users will be able to purchase the licenses separately from October 1, 2023.