EU antitrust regulators are seeking input from Microsoft users and competitors regarding whether Bing should be subject to new stringent tech regulations and if the same should apply to Apple’s iMessage, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The European Commission initiated investigations in September to determine whether Microsoft’s Bing, Edge, and Microsoft Advertising, as well as Apple’s iMessage, should fall under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Microsoft and Apple challenged the EU competition regulator’s classification of these services as core platform services under the DMA, prompting the probes.
The DMA mandates that Microsoft, Apple, Google (Alphabet), Amazon, Meta Platforms, and ByteDance facilitate third-party apps or app stores on their platforms and simplify the process for users to switch from default apps to competitors, among other obligations. The Commission recently distributed surveys, asking competitors and users to assess the significance of Microsoft’s three services and Apple’s iMessage compared to rival services.
Sources indicate that the EU watchdog inquired about specific aspects of the services that business users depend on and how they integrate into the companies’ ecosystems. They also sought information about the number of users utilizing these services. Respondents were given a timeframe of less than one week to provide their feedback, as the Commission aims to conclude its investigation within five months.
