Microsoft is making moves to separate its chat and video app Teams from its Office product on a global scale, as reported by Reuters. This decision comes in light of ongoing antitrust scrutiny, with Microsoft having already unbundled the products in Europe six months ago to avoid potential penalties.

The European Commission has been investigating Microsoft’s integration of Office and Teams following a complaint by Slack, a competing messaging app. Teams, which was initially added to Office 365 for free in 2017, gained popularity during the pandemic for its video conferencing features.

Critics argue that bundling these products gives Microsoft an unfair advantage, prompting the company to offer them separately in the EU and Switzerland since October 1st last year. This move aims to address feedback from the European Commission and provide clarity for customers worldwide.

Microsoft is rolling out new commercial Microsoft 365 and Office 365 suites globally that exclude Teams, along with a standalone Teams offering for Enterprise customers in these regions. Customers can choose to renew, update, or switch to the new offers starting April 1st, with prices varying based on the product and region.

While Microsoft’s efforts to unbundle Teams from Office are aimed at addressing antitrust concerns, sources suggest that it may not be enough to ward off potential charges from the EU. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving situation!