Microsoft: Global division of Teams and Office by the Information Technology behemoth.

The company decided to separate the two items in Europe last year because competition watchdogs might have fined it.

In 2017, Teams was integrated into Office. The action prompted a complaint from rival Slack in 2020, which prompted an investigation by the European Commission.

Microsoft said in a statement to the news that the action is being taken to “ensure clarity for our customers”.

The measure “also addresses feedback from the European Commission by providing multinational companies more flexibility when they want to standardise their purchasing across geographies,” they stated.

Teams Standalone will cost $5.25 (£4.20) for new customers, according to a blog post by Microsoft.
It’s uncertain if the company’s choice to separate Teams from Office will be sufficient to shield it from antitrust claims in the European Union (EU).