Microsoft says Slack 'suffered' from 'absence of video-conferencing' in response to anticompetitive allegations

Microosft Teams iOS and Surface
Microosft Teams iOS and Surface (Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft responded to Slack's allegations of anticompetitive practices.
  • Slack accused Microsoft of abusing its market dominance to eliminate competition for Microsoft Teams.
  • A Microsoft spokesperson said that Slack "suffered" due to its lack of video conferencing.

Here's the complete statement from the Microsoft spokesperson with emphasis added:

We created Teams to combine the ability to collaborate with the ability to connect via video, because that's what people want. With COVID-19, the market has embraced Teams in record numbers while Slack suffered from its absence of video-conferencing. We're committed to offering customers not only the best of new innovation, but a wide variety of choice in how they purchase and use the product.We look forward to providing additional information to the European Commission and answering any questions they may have.

The statement is more direct than many responses shared from Microsoft spokespersons. We'll continue to update our coverage of these accusations from Slack and Microsoft's response as more details come out.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.