UK competition regulator probes Microsoft 365 subscriptions

Britain's competition watchdog is scrutinizing Microsoft's business practices concerning its widely used Microsoft 365 subscriptions. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced on Monday it has launched an investigation into the tech giant.

The probe will examine whether Microsoft is unfairly limiting competition. This includes looking at whether the company bundles its services in ways that disadvantage rivals or make it difficult for customers to use alternative software. The investigation is a significant step that could impact how millions of users access and utilize Microsoft's productivity suite.

The CMA has not yet detailed specific concerns but indicated it will assess Microsoft's licensing arrangements and the bundling of its various applications within the Microsoft 365 package. The authority has a history of investigating major tech firms for potential anti-competitive behavior.