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The
European Commission in September opened investigations to assess
whether Microsoft's Bing, Edge and Microsoft Advertising as well
as Apple's iMessage should be subject to the Digital Markets Act
(DMA).
The probes came after the companies contested the EU competition
regulator labeling these services as core platform services
under the DMA.
The DMA requires Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet's Google, Amazon,
Meta Platforms and ByteDance to allow for third-party apps or
app stores on their platforms and to make it easier for users to
switch from default apps to rivals, among other obligations.
The Commission sent out questionnaires earlier this month,
asking rivals and users to rate the importance of Microsoft's
three services and Apple's iMessage versus competing services.
The people familiar with the matter said the EU watchdog asked
if there was anything specific to the services that business
users rely on and how they fit into the companies' ecosystems.
It also asked for the number of users using the services.
Respondents were given less than a week to provide feedback. The
Commission wants to complete its investigation within five
months.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, editing by Deborah Kyvrikosaios and
Angus MacSwan)
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