UK takes next step in Microsoft probe over possible practices limiting customer choice

The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority has moved to the next phase of an investigation into Microsoft (MSFT.OQ) to assess whether the company should be designated as having Strategic Market Status. The probe centers on whether Microsoft’s behavior could limit customer choice; such a designation would increase regulatory oversight and could lead to remedies or constraints in the U.K. While the report is procedural and contains no enforcement action yet, escalation increases regulatory uncertainty for Microsoft and could pressure sentiment in the near term, particularly around the company’s U.K. cloud and enterprise arrangements. The article is a factual update and does not provide fresh financial forecasts or analyst reactions.